Apelles – the most famous painter of antiquity

The school of Apelles

According to Pliny, the Apelles flourished during the period of 112is Olympiados i.e. between 332 and of the 329. His collaboration with Ptolemy I of Egypt indicates that there has been active at least until the -305, when Ptolemy was proclaimed King. It is estimated that lived by the -352 until the -300 about. Descended from the Ionian city of Colophon North of Ephesus.

The Apelles was initially a student of Superintendent of Efesioy.
Already an established painter comes in Sicyon. Studying for 12 years in the Painting School with teacher Sikyonia pamphilus which gave a talent time. It is said that he and the painter's neighbor Amfipoliti. During his stay in Sicyon, working with the painter Melanthios for construction of the image of the tyrant Aristratoy. This information gives us the browser Wars (quotes: Plutarch, Vios Aratou, Fri. 13 and Pliny, Natural History, Book 35, Fri. 123). In Sicyon found him Alexander the great and together with the Lysippo took them to the Macedonian Court.

The painter Apelles worked like the environment of Philip II and Alexander the great, Youth Prize by submitting several portraits of them. As reported by Pliny, Alexander the great appreciate his skills. For this reason, Alexander the great had forbidden to paint other than Apelles (Pliny, Natural History, Book 35, Fri. 85). It is noted that Apelles was followed by Alexander the great in his campaign in Asia by Ephesus.

"THE M. Alexander and Kampaspi
in the laboratory of Apelles "
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1740)

The Kampaspi. When he was in the Macedonian Court painted the mistress of Alexander Kampaspi which Apelles fell in love with. The table impressed both Alexander the great so later ceded Kampaspi to Apelles.

According to Pliny, Alexander the great called by Apelles to painted a portrait of pallakidas Kampaspis and he fell in love. The table impressed both Alexander so that later gave as a gift to the painter.

Other great works of Apelles is:

"Alexander Keraynoforos" in the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus for which ameifthike with the hefty amount of 20 Gold talents (Pliny, Book 35, Fri. 92). Plutarch in "Fortune or Virtue Of Alexander", says that "one of the Alexandrwn of Philip was invincible, the Apelloy's inimitable ". The same writer says, also, for the same table, that gave the skin color of Alexander faiotero, While the face and chest were an amazing reddish whiteness.

For the ' Emergent Venus "the Apelles to use as a model the beautiful courtesan and mistress of Praxiteles Phryne. Strabo writes that Apelles inspired the theme of the table when she saw the famous courtesan Fryni being bathed in Elefsina. The table was dedicated to the Temple of Asklepios on Kos.

The Calumny of Apelles
Sandro Botticelli (1495)

"The Slander". Particular mention should be made to the table of Apelles "slander", which is preserved in a copy by Sandro Botticelli who painted based on description by Lucian for table of Apelles in the treatise "radiws mi pisteyein On of diaboli" i.e. that will not easily believe the slander. The story refers to the painter Antifilo who enochleito because the Macedonian King of Egypt Ptolemy I the special evaluation Lagoy showed in spite of Apelles in this. For this reason, the Antifilos maligning the Apelles in Ptolemy that allegedly participated in the conspiracy of the eparch of Tyre Theodota against Ptolemy. Ptolemy exorgisthike of Apelles but when later learned the truth this embarassed him and a) donated to Apelles 100 talents and b) Antifilo gave him like a slave. In response the Apelles in slander, due to which PB, He painted the famous painting "Slander" i.e. slander.

To that describes table Lucian:

The Calumny of Apelles, (minutes)
Sandro Botticelli,

"On the right sits a man with very large ears, almost identical with those of Midas, suggesting the hand to Slander while still standing off of. Around him stood two women, ignorance, I think, and Doctrine. On the other hand approaching the Slander, woman too beautiful, full of fervor and irritation, like to show rabies and rage, keeping the torch lit left hand and with the other hand dragging by the hair a young stretching their hands to heaven and calls witnesses the gods. Preceding katwchros and ugly man, with piercing look, that seems to have become a skeleton by long illness. One might think that that is the envy (jealousy). Additionally, the following two other Slander women who encourage the dress and decorate. As I told the Guide, one is Affected and other fraud. Then followed some woman with looks completely mournful, dressed in black tatter about truly. This was called, I think, Repentance. This, well, targeted towards the back with tears and full casting sidelong glances at the shameful Truth that drew ".

The Apelles was famed for the richness of colors of. Had discovered color preparation methods from a variety of different substances that even today is unknown. Use a paint that way nobody else has been able to emulate. Lauded by all the sincerity of the artist, who said that falls short of the Melanthiou in the layout, Asklipiodwroy not in symmetry and measure, for which the admired. Also referred to as an innovator in the field of technical, having devised a special preparation method of mixing of substances of ivory color (Pliny, Book 35, Fri. 25). The use of help in maintaining and protecting works while also affect potential and ease of colors.

The main feature of the art of Apelles was the delicacy of the features of, the plausibility of colors of, the immeasurable grace, kalloni, expressiveness of forms and avoid any overselling and in plan and in the colours. It is estimated that the first alligorikes pictures painted and Apelles personifications of ideas like thunder, ignorance, the reputation of, the envy, the slander, the truth. Pindar wrote that Apelles «meilicha» works for mortals and this placed in children's aristocratic of the lawsuit, the deep music of education, the innate kindness and grace that is a gift of the gods. Pliny (Natural History, Book 35, Fri. 88) argued that Apelles was superior to the painters that succeeded and by those who were followers of. Said that the portraits were so lifelike, so a metwposkopos could predict the age of the person depicted, and to make projections for the future of.

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