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Apelles:

       Apelles was an ancient Greek painter, widely regarded as one of the greatest artists of antiquity. Although very little of his work has survived to the present day, his influence on the development of Western art is profound. Apelles is often celebrated for his mastery of technique, innovative use of color, and the emotional depth he brought to his subjects. His life and career have been recorded in various ancient sources, though much of the information about him is shrouded in legend.

Apelles is believed to have been born around 370 BC in the city of Colophon, located in what is now modern-day Turkey. His active period as a painter spanned the 4th century BC, and he worked during the reign of Alexander the Great, one of history’s most influential military and cultural figures. Apelles is often said to have been the court painter of Alexander, and it was through his association with the Macedonian court that his fame spread far beyond his hometown.

As a young man, Apelles trained under the renowned painter Ephorus of Ephesus. His skill and dedication quickly gained him recognition, and it is said that he was so talented that he caught the attention of the most powerful figures of his time. Alexander the Great himself was said to have admired Apelles’ work, and the artist painted several portraits of the king, including one of Alexander in the guise of the god Heracles, which was reportedly displayed in a temple. Apelles was granted royal patronage, and he became known for his ability to flatter his subjects through his portraits, while also capturing their idealized and heroic forms.

One of Apelles’ most famous works was a portrait of Alexander, which was said to be so lifelike that it almost seemed to convey the king’s dynamic energy. This portrait, like many of his works, was not only about capturing physical likeness but also about conveying the essence and personality of the individual. Apelles' portraits were known for their clarity of expression and the subtlety of his use of color and light. He was said to have developed the art of shading and smooth transitions between light and shadow, making his subjects appear more lifelike.

Apelles was also known for his innovations in technique. According to ancient sources, he was the first to develop a painting medium that allowed for more vibrant and durable colors, which was revolutionary at the time. His works were said to be characterized by a delicate interplay of light and shadow, achieving a level of naturalism that was unmatched by earlier artists. He also experimented with the use of glazing, allowing his colors to become more transparent and luminous.

In addition to his portraiture, Apelles was renowned for his depictions of gods and heroes from Greek mythology. His work in this genre helped establish the idealized forms of the gods in art, which would become a dominant feature in classical art for centuries. He was also admired for his ability to depict movement and emotion in his figures, qualities that were difficult to achieve in the rigid conventions of earlier Greek art.

Though no paintings by Apelles have survived to the present day, his legacy has endured through the writings of ancient authors such as Pliny the Elder and Vitruvius, who documented his achievements. They praised his skill, his dedication to perfection, and his willingness to innovate. Apelles’ reputation as the epitome of classical art influenced generations of artists throughout the ancient world and continues to shape our understanding of the development of Western painting.

Career:

       He painted the young Alexander with so much interest and effort that he turned out to be the accepted and popular painter of Macedon. His picture of Alexander weilding a thunderbolt (attached is probably a Roman copy of his work) was one of the much appreciated paintings. However, this picture also led to a controversy.

Plutarch, the Greek historian and biographer remarked negatively regarding Alexander’s colouring in this painting.He stated that the complexion of Alexander was depicted as dark-skinned,whereas it was believed that he was fair skinned,with a ruddy tinge on his face and chest.None of his paintings however survive till today.

Works of Apelles: