Lot Essay
Sold with a certificate of Dr.W. Bernt dated 27 May 1973.
The inscription Alter Parasius ( = the other Parasius ) refers to the contest between the painters Zeuxis and Parasius as accounted by Pliny. Parasius, who had painted a picture of a painting, partially covered by a drapery,won the contest of being the best painter before Zeuxis, as he had been able to deceive mankind, while Zeuxis by painting a bunch of grapes had only deceived birds.
The inscription Alter Parasius ( = the other Parasius ) refers to the contest between the painters Zeuxis and Parasius as accounted by Pliny. Parasius, who had painted a picture of a painting, partially covered by a drapery,won the contest of being the best painter before Zeuxis, as he had been able to deceive mankind, while Zeuxis by painting a bunch of grapes had only deceived birds.