

He systematically described and catalogued thousands of Attic black-figure and red-figure vases and sherds, using the methods of the art historian Giovanni Morelli for the study of paintings. Beazley used these compendia as a starting point for his own work. This led to an intensive study of painters' signatures, and by the late 19th century, scholars began to compile stylistic compendia. The discovery of the first signature of Euphronios in 1838 revealed that individual painters could be identified and named, so that their works might be ascribed to them. Initially, interest focused on iconography. Modern scientific study of Greek pottery began near the end of the 18th century. Thus reconstruction of Euphronios's life and artistic development-like that of all Greek vase painters-can only be derived from his works.

The copious literary tradition on the arts hardly mention pottery. In contrast to other artists, such as sculptors, no ancient Greek literature sources refer specifically to vase painters.
