BOOK XXXV. xxx\'i. 85-87 



picture and rebuked him, sayin^ that a shoemaker 



in his criticism must not go beyond the sandal — 



a remark that has also passed into a proverb.'* In Apeiies md 



fact he also possessed great courtesy of manners, "^ ^^"" ^' 



which made him more agreeable to Alexander the 



Great, who frequently visited his studio — for, as we 



have said, Alexander had published an edict for- vii, 125. 



bidding any other artist to paint his portrait ; but 



in the studio Alexander used to talk a great deal 



about painting without any real knowledge of it, 



and Apelles would poHtely advise him to drop the 



subject, saying that the boys engaged in grinding 



the colours were laughing at him : so much power 



did his authority exercise over a King who was 



otherwise of an irascible temper. And yet Alexander 



conferred honour on him in a most conspicuous 



instance ; he had such an admiration for the beauty 



of his favourite mistress, named Pancaspe, that he 



gave orders that she should be painted in the nude 



by Apelles, and then discovering that the artist 



while executing the commission had fallen in love 



with the woman, he presented her to him, great- 



minded as he was and still greater owing to his control 



of himself, and of a greatness proved by this action 



as much as by any other victory : because he 



conquered himself, and presented not only his 



bedmate but his affection also to the artist, and was 



not even influenced by regard for the feelings of 



his favourite in having been recently the mistress of a 



monarch and now belonged to a painter. Some 



persons believe that she was the model from which 



the Aphrodite Anadyomene (Rising from the Sea) 



was painted. It was Apelles also who, kindly among 



his rivals, first established the reputation of 



325 



