The artwork “Apelles Painting Campaspe in the Presence of Alexander the Great” is a neoclassical mythological painting by Jacques-Louis David. The genre of the artwork is mythological, depicting a scene from ancient history or lore imbued with moral or philosophical undertones typical of the Neoclassicism movement that sought to revive classical ideals of beauty and morality.
The artwork portrays the legendary moment when Apelles, a famed ancient Greek painter, is commissioned by Alexander the Great to paint a portrait of Campaspe, Alexander’s favorite concubine. The composition is dominated by three figures within a dimly lit interior space. On the left side of the canvas stands Alexander the Great, distinctively garbed, observing Apelles who is seated before a large, blank canvas yet to begin his work. Apelles, at the center of the painting, turns his gaze towards Campaspe, portrayed nude and seated on a sumptuously adorned chaise, exuding grace and modesty with the placement of her hands and the downward tilt of her head. The environment is furnished with classical motifs, including a column and a draped fabric, which frame the scene and enhance its antique quality.
The interplay of gazes between the characters sets a narrative tension, creating a sense of unspoken and complex emotions pertaining to creativity, beauty, and possibly desire. The use of light and shadow amplifies the drama and depth of the figures, each rendered with an attention to anatomy and poise reflective of the neoclassical style. The unfinished sketch lines on the canvas within the painting suggest the immediacy of the artistic process, while the overall scene evokes themes of art, power, and love, characteristic of neoclassical art’s exploration of historical and moralistic content.
