Apelles and Campaspe - Honoré Daumier

A satirical lithograph from Daumier's 'Histoire Ancienne' series, depicting the classical painter Apelles and Alexander the Great with characteristic wit.

This lithograph by Honoré Daumier belongs to his series 'Histoire Ancienne', which appeared in the satirical journal Le Charivari during the early 1840s. Daumier, a master of caricature, turns his attention to classical mythology, specifically the story of the painter Apelles and his model, Campaspe. In the original legend, Alexander the Great commissioned Apelles to paint his mistress, Campaspe, only to fall in love with her himself. Daumier subverts this grand narrative by presenting the figures with his characteristic biting wit.

The composition features a kneeling Apelles, who appears more like a scruffy, bespectacled artisan than a legendary Greek master. He gestures towards the central figure, a pompous Alexander the Great, who stands with an exaggerated, feathered helmet and ornate armour. Campaspe stands to the left, draped in simple cloth, looking on with a weary expression that suggests she is unimpressed by the posturing of the men around her. Daumier uses his signature fluid, calligraphic line to define the forms, employing cross-hatching to create depth and shadow within the studio setting. A faint, ghostly sketch of a figure on the wall behind them adds a layer of meta-commentary on the artistic process.

Daumier was known for his ability to deflate the pomposity of the ruling class and the pretension of the art world. By placing these historical figures in a mundane, slightly absurd studio environment, he brings the lofty ideals of antiquity down to the level of contemporary Parisian life. The work is a fine example of his ability to combine technical skill with social commentary, capturing the human flaws behind the mask of historical greatness. This print offers a glimpse into the mid-nineteenth-century French perspective on classical subjects, filtered through the lens of a cartoonist who was deeply observant of human vanity.