Apelles, << uh PEHL eez, >> was one of the most famous ancient Greek painters. He lived during the 300’s B.C. Although none of his paintings has survived, their subjects are known from ancient authors who praised the artist for the amazing realism of his work. Apelles was court painter to Philip II and Alexander the Great of Macedonia. Apelles painted a portrait of Philip and another of Alexander holding a thunderbolt. Apelles was also famous for his painting of the goddess Aphrodite rising from the sea.
