Agatharchus facts for kids
Agatharchus (also spelled Agatharch) was a talented painter from the ancient Greek island of Samos. He lived in the 5th century BC, a long time ago! His father's name was Eudemos. Agatharchus taught himself how to paint, which is pretty amazing.
He is famous for inventing something called scenic painting for the theater. Imagine painting a background for a play that makes it look like a real place! The Roman writer Vitruvius said that Agatharchus painted a scene for a play by the famous Greek writer Aeschylus.
This means Agatharchus was likely one of the first to use perspective in painting. Perspective is a way of drawing or painting things so they look three-dimensional and realistic, with objects appearing smaller the further away they are. It creates an illusion of depth, making flat surfaces look like they have space.
Some people thought that Sophocles, another great Greek writer, introduced scenic painting. But it seems Agatharchus was the pioneer. He probably started using it, and then Sophocles made it more popular in plays.
Agatharchus was the first painter we know of who used perspective on a large scale. He helped set the stage for other famous painters who came after him, like Apollodorus.
Agatharchus's Life and Work
Agatharchus lived at the same time as important figures like Alcibiades and Zeuxis, who were also well-known. People often talked about how quickly and easily he could finish his paintings.
There's a famous story about Agatharchus and Alcibiades, a powerful Athenian leader. Alcibiades really wanted Agatharchus to paint his house. So, he invited Agatharchus over and convinced him to stay for more than three months, painting his home.
This story helps us figure out when Agatharchus lived. It happened around the time of the destruction of the city of Milos (in 416 BC) and before a big trip to Sicily (in 415 BC). This information helps historians place Agatharchus's life accurately in history.
Sources
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Agatharchus (2)". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. (1870).
See also
In Spanish: Agatarco para niños
