April 15: World Art Day

The ancient painter Apollodorus (5th century BC) invented the technique of skiagraphia, the use of shadow to enhance realism. After him, Zeuxis perfected this realistic style, with as his masterpiece a bunch of grapes, so convincing that birds came down to peck at them. But his rival, Parrhasius, hid his painting behind a curtain and asked Zeuxis to open it. When he tried to, Zeuxis was stunned: the drapery was not a curtain at all, but a painted “trompe-l’oeil”. “Zeuxis has deceived birds, but Parrhasius deceived Zeuxis!” Yet, the general opinion was that both of them were surpassed by the talent of Apelles of Kos. Notably, Apelles “stood out in knowing when he had put enough effort in.” This didn’t take away from the fact he was always striving to perfect his pictures. When a shoemaker pointed out a faulty detail on a shoe, he quickly corrected the mistake. But when the same shoemaker dared to criticise something else, he shouted: “A shoemaker should stick to his last!” And this saying is what lasts from Apelles.

Lekythos, influenced by Parrhasius, National Archaeological Museum Athens, Greece

Alexander the Great visits the studio of Apelles, Willem Van Haecht, private collection

Did you know...

• Alexander the Great would have commissioned a painting of his favourite concubine, Campaspe, with Apelles. Apelles promptly fell in love with her and got her as an appreciation gift.

• Apelles’ works did not survive, but in the 15th century, Sandro Botticelli made a reproduction of his painting “Calumny” using the description of the 2nd century writer Lucian.