Apedia

Apelles Love Campaspe Alexander Portrait Falls Theban Completed

Front Campaspe
Back a prose comedy
John Lyly
1584
attracted by his Theban prisoner Campaspe, Alexander the great commissions Apelles to paint her portrait
Apelles and Campaspe fall in love and Apelles spoils the completed portrait so that Campaspe will have to go on sitting for him
Alexander released her to Apelles
back to war Alexander believed that it were a shame that he should desire to command the world , if he not command himself

While in Athens, Alexander falls in love with the beautiful Theban captive, Campaspe. He grants the young woman her freedom, and has her portrait painted by the artist Apelles. Apelles quickly falls in love with her too; when the portrait is finished, he deliberately mars it to have more time with his sitter. Campaspe in turn falls in love with Apelles. When Apelles eventually presents the completed portrait to Alexander, the painter's behaviour reveals that he is in love with Campaspe. Alexander magnanimously resigns his interest in Campaspe so that the true love between her and Apelles can flower; he turns his attention to the invasion of Persia and further conquests.

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