Apelles facts for kids
Apelles of Kos was a super famous painter from ancient Greece. He lived around the 4th century BC. A writer named Pliny the Elder wrote a lot about Apelles in his book, Natural History. Pliny thought Apelles was better than any other painter, both before and after him!
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Who Was Apelles?
Apelles was born on the island of Kos, which is part of Greece. He was active as a painter during the 112th Olympiad. This was a period between 332 and 329 BC. He became very well-known for his amazing artwork.
Apelles and Alexander the Great
One of the most important people Apelles painted was Alexander the Great. Alexander was a powerful king and military leader. He liked Apelles' work so much that he chose Apelles to be his official painter. This meant Apelles was the only artist allowed to paint Alexander's portrait.
Famous Paintings by Apelles
Apelles created many famous paintings, but sadly, none of them have survived to today. We only know about them from what ancient writers like Pliny the Elder described.
- Portrait of Alexander the Great: Apelles painted Alexander in many different ways. One famous painting showed Alexander holding a thunderbolt, like the Greek god Zeus. This made Alexander look very powerful.
- Aphrodite Anadyomene: This painting showed the goddess of love, Aphrodite, rising from the sea. It was considered one of Apelles' masterpieces. People said it was so beautiful that it seemed real.
- Calumny of Apelles: This painting was a warning about false accusations. It showed a person named Calumny (meaning false accusation) leading a group of bad characters. This painting was a way for Apelles to share a message about justice.
What Made Apelles Special?
Apelles was known for several things that made his art stand out:
- Amazing Realism: His paintings looked incredibly lifelike. People were amazed by how real his figures seemed.
- Skill with Color: He was a master at using colors. He even used a special dark glaze to make his colors pop.
- Attention to Detail: Apelles paid close attention to every small detail. This made his paintings very rich and interesting.
- Hard Work: He believed in practicing every day. He famously said, "No day without a line," meaning he drew something every single day.
Images for kids
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Alexander the Great Offering His Concubine Campaspe to the Painter Apelles (Gaetano Gandolfi, c. 1793–97)
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Alexander the Great and Campaspe in the studio of Apelles, by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.
See also
In Spanish: Apeles para niños
