Who painted The Calumny of Apelles?

The Calumny of Apelles was painted by Giorgio Ghisi in 1560.

Where can I see The Calumny of Apelles?

The Calumny of Apelles is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Calumny of Apelles?

The Calumny of Apelles is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of The Calumny of Apelles?

Museum-quality prints of The Calumny of Apelles are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Calumny of Apelles

Giorgio Ghisi , 1560

The Calumny of Apelles is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Giorgio Ghisi. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower right on throne: GEOR / GIVS / GHISI / MANT / .F. 1560; lower left in image: CVM PRIVILE / GIO REGIS; lower center in image: ATTRAHIT INSONTE PERIVRA CALVMNIA APELLE / IN IVS IMMISCENS FANDA NEFANDA SIMVL / AVRICVLIS IVDEX INSIGNIS TEPORA ASELLI / IVS PARITER REDDIT COCLITE CV COMITE / TEMPORIS AT DEMV QVAE FERTVR FILIA SEROS / IN LVCEM PROFERT QVI LATVRERE DOLOS; lower right in tablet: LVCA / PENIS / .IN.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1560, The Calumny of Apelles is an engraving on laid paper by Giorgio Ghisi, a Mantuan artist who later practiced in Antwerp and France. The print exemplifies the late Mannerist penchant for elaborate detail and crowded composition, presenting a narrative scene drawn from an ancient Greek allegory concerning false accusation.

Subject & Meaning

The image visualises the moral tale of Apelles, wherein a man brandishes a torch while another clutches a net, symbolising the spread and capture of slander. Set within a columned interior that includes a distant statue, the figures’ gestures and expressions convey the dynamics of accusation, defense, and the destructive power of rumor.

Technique & Style

Ghisi employs a fine cross‑hatching technique that builds tonal variation, rendering the folds of garments and the texture of architectural elements with remarkable precision. The intricate line work creates depth and a tactile sense of surface, reflecting the meticulous engraving practices typical of late Mannerist printmaking.

History & Provenance

Although Ghisi is also known for a small number of damascened metal objects, only two of which survive, his reputation rests chiefly on his prints. The Calumny of Apelles was produced during his Mantuan period before his relocation to northern Europe, and it circulated among collectors of the period as a model of sophisticated allegorical engraving.

Context

The work aligns with the broader Renaissance interest in classical literature, adapting a Greek moral anecdote for a 16th‑century audience. Its complex composition and refined engraving echo the intellectual climate of the time, where artists merged humanist themes with the technical virtuosity demanded by the print market.