Zeuxis(5th-4th century BC)
One of the most famous painters of his
time, who was known to make very realistic paintings. He also did clay
sculptures, but neither them nor the paintings have survived to the
afterworld. We do have copies of his work in Roman villas, though.
Zeuxis often thought himself misunderstood by his public and Aristotle did
not like him at all. All his life he worked in South Italy and is said to
have laughed himself to death after painting a funny old woman.
An anecdote tells us how Zeuxis and another very famous painter, Parrhasios,
once competed in who could paint the most realistic painting. Zeuxis painted
some graped, that seemed so real that the birds came to eat them. Then he
asked Parrhasios to pull away the curtain and show his painting, but it
turned out that the curtain was actually painted. Zeuxis then said: I've
deceived the birds, but Parrhasios has deceived Zeuxis.
Zeuxis worked out how to use light and shades to give the impression of
depth. He belonged to a new school where the background was given more
emphasis. Among his known works were Helen of Troy and The Centaur family.