Apollodorus of Athens (artist)
Apollodorus of Athens was an influential Ancient Greek painter known for advancing the depiction of realism in art during the 5th century BCE. Although none of his works have survived, his contributions to the use of perspective and chiaroscuro—an artistic technique that employs light and shadow to create the illusion of depth—are well documented. He earned the nickname "Sciagraphos," or "Shadow-Painter," reflecting his innovative approach to representing spatial relationships. Apollodorus is often recognized for his commitment to capturing objects as they truly appear, which was praised by the Roman historian Pliny the Elder.
His work and ideas played a significant role in shaping the aesthetic standards of later art, influencing not only painters but also philosophical discussions about the nature of reality and representation. Notably, his advancements laid the groundwork for a shift in Western artistic values, emphasizing realism. This evolution in artistic technique also sparked philosophical debates, particularly in the writings of Plato, who expressed concerns regarding the moral implications of artistic illusion. Overall, Apollodorus of Athens marked a pivotal point in the trajectory of visual art, melding technical innovation with deeper philosophical considerations about the nature of representation.
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Apollodorus of Athens (artist)
Related civilizations: Archaic Greece, Republican Rome
Major role/position: Artist
Life
The particulars of the life of Apollodorus (uh-pahl-uh-DOHR-uhs) of Athens are unknown, and none of his work survives. However, he is known to have continued the advances toward realism in art developed by the earlier fifth century b.c.e. painters Micon, Polygnotus, and Agatharcus. Agatharcus, the first to paint a scene for a production of tragedy, wrote a treatise on the use of perspective for creating the illusion of theatrical distance. Apollodorus furthered the illusion of perspective, employing the use of light and shadow to convey spatial relationships, a technique known as chiaroscuro. Apollodorus came to be known as “Sciagraphos,” or “Shadow-Painter,” from the Greek for “shadow-drawing.” Historian Pliny the Elder spoke of him as the first to paint things as they really appear and to give glory to the brush. Yet he seemed to have been surpassed in realism by painter Zeuxis of Heraclea, who added highlights to shading and whose paintings of grapes are said to have deceived birds.
Influence
Apollodorus contributed to realism in painting, a feature that helped form Western taste for most of its history. The general movement toward realism influenced fourth century philosophical discourse, especially that of Plato, who worried over the moral probity of illusion in art, where a two-dimensional medium gives the false impression of three dimensions. In the Politeia (388-368 b.c.e.; Republic, 1701), Plato’s Socrates observes that the painter is several times removed from the pure reality of the idea—even more removed than the craftsperson, who makes a three-dimensional object.
Bibliography
Bruno, V. J. Form and Color in Greek Painting. New York: W. W. Norton, 1977.