The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 6 (of 6)Pliny, the Elder
History
The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 6 (of 6)
Pliny, the Elder
Natural history -- Pre-Linnean works
As to Timanthes,[1986] he was an artist highly gifted with genius,
and loud have some of the orators[1987] been in their commendations
of his Iphigenia, represented as she stands at the altar awaiting her
doom. Upon the countenance of all present, that of her uncle[1988] in
particular, grief was depicted; but having already exhausted all the
characteristic features of sorrow, the artist adopted the device of
veiling the features of the victim’s father,[1989] finding himself
unable adequately to give expression to his feelings. There are also
some other proofs of his genius, a Sleeping Cyclops, for instance,
which he has painted upon a small panel; but, being desirous to convey
an idea of his gigantic stature, he has painted some Satyrs near him
measuring his thumb with a thyrsus. Indeed, Timanthes is the only one
among the artists in whose works there is always something more implied
by the pencil than is expressed, and whose execution, though of the
very highest quality, is always surpassed by the inventiveness of his
genius. He has also painted the figure of a Hero, a master-piece of
skill, in which he has carried the art to the very highest pitch of
perfection, in the delineation of the warrior: this last-mentioned
work is now at Rome, in the Temple of Pence.[1990]
It was at this period, too, that Euxinidas had for his pupil
Aristides,[1991] who became a most illustrious artist; and that
Eupompus instructed Pamphilus, who afterwards became the instructor of
Apelles. There is by Eupompus, a Victor in a gymnastic contest, holding
a palm. So high was the reputation of this artist, that he established
a school of painting, and so divided the art into three styles;
whereas till then there had been but two, known respectively as the
Helladic[1992] and the Asiatic. In honour of him, a native of Sicyon by
birth, the Helladic school was divided into two, and from this period
there were three distinct styles recognized, the Ionic, the Sicyonian,
and the Attic.
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