Apelles schildert Alexander de Grote en Campaspe c. 1543 - 1545

This print, by the Monogrammist IQV, depicts Apelles painting Alexander the Great and Campaspe. The print visualizes a story where Alexander commissions Apelles to paint Campaspe, his mistress. The artist falls in love with her, leading Alexander to relinquish her to the painter. The tale, popularized during the Renaissance, speaks to the perceived power of art and artists, and the relationships between power, beauty, and creativity. Here, the male gaze is literalized. Campaspe becomes an object of both royal and artistic desire. Her agency is removed as she is passed between powerful men. The story becomes an allegory for the artist's unique power to capture and possess beauty through representation. Note the opulent ornamentation around the central scene, typical of Renaissance prints, drawing attention to the cultural value placed on both the classical subject matter, and artistic skill. The image invites us to consider the ways in which art can both reflect and shape societal values, and the complex relationships between artist, patron, and muse.