Apelles (design for a mosaic in the Victoria and Albert Museum)
1864
oil
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1864
oil
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
The painting depicts a man standing in the center, wearing a red toga draped over his left shoulder and a brown tunic. He holds a palette in his left hand and a bundle of paintbrushes in his right. At his feet is a large, dark brown vase. To his left stands a canvas with a painting of a nude woman. The background is a mosaic of small, golden tiles arranged in a circular pattern. The man's attire and the objects he holds suggest that he is an artist. The painting on the canvas to his left appears to be a work in progress, with visible brushstrokes and an unfinished quality. This painting is reminiscent of the work of artist Edward Poynter.
