But this city was the mother and charitable nurse of
many other arts and sciences; some of which she first invented and illustrated, to others she gave both efficacy,
honor, and increase. More especially to her is painting
beholden for its first invention, and the perfection to
which it has attained. For Apollodorus the painter, who
first invented the mixing of colors and the softening of
shadows, was an Athenian. Over whose works there is
this inscription:
' Tis no hard thing to reprehend me;
But let the men that blame me mend me.
Then for Euphranor, Nicias, Asclepiodorus, and Plistaenetus the brother of Phidias, some of them painted the
victories, others the battles of great generals, and some of
them heroes themselves. Thus Euphranor, comparing his
own Theseus with another drawn by Parrhasius, said, that
Parrhasius's Theseus ate roses, but his fed upon beef. For
Parrhasius's piece was daintily painted, and perhaps it might
be something like the original. But he that beheld Euphranor's Theseus might well exclaim,
Race of Erechtheus bold and stout,
Whom Pallas bred.
1
Euphranor also painted with great spirit the battle of
Mantinea, fought by the cavalry between the Athenians
and Epaminondas. The story was thus. The Theban
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Epaminondas, puffed up with his victory at Leuctra, and
designing to insult and trample over fallen Sparta and
the glory of that city, with an army of seventy thousand
men invaded and laid waste the Lacedaemonian territory,
stirred up the subject people to revolt, and not far from
Mantinea provoked the Spartans to battle; but they neither
being willing nor indeed daring to encounter him, being in
expectation of a reinforcement from Athens, Epaminondas
dislodged in the night-time, and with all the secrecy imaginable fell into the Lacedaemonian territory; and missed but
little of taking Sparta itself, being destitute of men to defend it. But the allies of the Lacedaemonians made haste
to its relief; whereupon Epaminondas made a show as if
he would again return to spoiling and laying waste the
country; and by this means deceiving and amusing his
enemies, he retreats out of Laconia by night, and with
swift marches coming upon the Mantineans unexpectedly,
at what time they were deliberating to send relief to
Sparta, presently commanded the Thebans to prepare to
storm the town. Immediately the Thebans, who had a
great conceit of their warlike courage, took their several
posts, and began to surround the city. This put the Mantineans into a dismal consternation, and filled the whole
city with dreadful outcries and hurly-burly, as being neither
able to withstand such a torrent of armed men ready to
rush in upon them, nor having any hopes of succor.
But at the same time, and by good fortune, the Athenians came down from the hills into the plains of Mantinea,
not knowing any thing of the critical moment that required
more speedy haste, but marching leisurely along. However, so soon as they were informed of the danger of their
allies, by one that scouted out from the rest, though but few
in respect of the number of their enemies, single of themselves, and tired with their march, yet they presently drew
up into order of battle; and the cavalry charging up to
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the very gates of Mantinea, there happened a terrible battle
betweeen the horse on both sides; wherein the Athenians got the better, and so saved Mantinea out of Epaminondas's hands. This conflict was painted by Euphranor,
and you see in the picture with what strength, what fury
and vigor they fought. And yet I do not believe that any
one will compare the skill of the painter with that of the
general; or would endure that any one should prefer the
picture before the trophy, or the imitation before the truth
itself.
