# Apelles Painting Campaspe in the Presence of Alexander

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/hoefnagel-jacob-rc464890988c97c/apelles-painting-campaspe-in-the-presence-of-alexander-rc475e2847923c4>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [HOEFNAGEL, Jacob](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/hoefnagel-jacob-rc464890988c97c>)
- Date: 1601-1650
- Technique: Watercolour on paper, 220 x 160 mm

## Commentary

In a perfect oval highlighted in gold, the scene is represented with a multitude of characters. The figure bedecked with ribbons is the Emperor Alexander. The story goes that the latter commissioned Appelles, illustrated by the man holding the paintbrush, to paint the portrait of Campaspe, one of his most beautiful mistresses. The painter fell madly in love with her. The watercolour shows the precise moment when Apelles starts to have feelings for Campaspe. This work shows Jacob Hoefnagel to be a great miniaturist, just like his father, Joris Hoefnagel.

## Related artworks

- [A Young Man Caresses an Old Woman](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/hoefnagel-jacob-rc464890988c97c/a-young-man-caresses-an-old-woman-r6dadcea3fee262>)
- [Allegory of the Humanist Virtue](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/hoefnagel-jacob-rc464890988c97c/allegory-of-the-humanist-virtue-refb85ec3dc7eba>)
- [Several insects](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/hoefnagel-jacob-rc464890988c97c/several-insects-r35be46f7866ba0>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)