Have you ever heard about the competition between Zeuxis and Parrhasius? This anecdote from antiquity, told by the Roman author Pliny the Elder (23/24–79 CE), is definitely one of the most famous competitions in art history. 🍇 And this is how the story goes: The Greek painter Zeuxis is said to have painted grapes that looked so realistic - they even attracted birds. 🦜 In contrast, his rival Parrhasius painted a curtain. He then asked Zeuxis to draw it aside so as to view the painting concealed behind it. And Zeuxis tried to do so. Indeed, he was duped by Parrhasius’ trick and had to concede his defeat: after all, he himself had only managed to deceive animals. 😬 Many paintings from the Renaissance onwards have alluded to this and other anecdotes. Such depictions gave artists the opportunity to parade their learning and to test their skills and to test them against models from antiquity. ⚡️ As you can see, the principle of competition shaped the works of painters and sculptures from antiquity on. Our big autumn exhibition will focus on this subject, presenting some of the most important occasions and arenas of artistic competition in thematic clusters. ‘IDOLS & RIVALS ✨ Artists in Competition’ will be on view from 20 September 2022 until 8 January 2023 at #KunsthistorischesMuseum #Vienna Get your ticket now: link in bio! Jan van der Hamen y León, Still life, 1621, Wood, 56 × 74 cm, Patrimonio Nacional, El Escorial, Monasterio de San Lorenzo
© Patrimonio Nacional, El Escorial, Monasterio de San Lorenzo @patrimnacional