
Importuna adulatio.
Improper flattery
Magnus Alexander patulum qui subdidit Orbem,
Ut natus esse crederetur č polo:
Illius effigiem insignem picturus Apelles,
Addidit adulator trisulca fulmina.
Sed nimium fuit hoc, & res suspecta modestos
Habuit reprensores negotii levis.
Lysippus plastes qui Regem duxerat aere,
Hastam decere nam magis Reges ait.
Iulius exceptus victor, non Regis honores,
Vult Imperatoris sed usque nomina.
Fulmina mortales terrent, sunt fulmina caelo,
Benigniůs Reges agunt, & Principes.
Convenit his Aegis, praestans & Palladis hasta,
Insigne verům heröis istud inclyti.
In order to have it believed that Alexander the Great, who subjected the wide world, was born in heaven, Apelles was about to paint a remarkable portrait of him; the flatterer added the three-forked thunderbolt. However, this was excessive and modest critics censured the suspect business as a weak job. For the sculptor Lysippus, who fashioned the king in bronze, said the lance was more becoming of the king. When Julius Caesar was welcomed as a conqueror, he did not want the honours of a king, but only the terms of an imperator [commander, general]. The thunderbolts frighten humans, they are the thunderbolts from heaven, kings and princes act more kindly. For these the aegis and outstanding lance of Pallas are suitable, that true symbol of a renowned hero.
Related Emblems
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- adult man (+ two persons) [31D14(+72)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Apelles painting Alexander holding a thunderbolt [98B(APELLES)54] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm held downwards (+ holding something) [31A2515(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward (+ holding something) [31A2512(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward - AA - both arms or hands (+ holding something) [31AA2512(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- armour [45C22] Search | Browse Iconclass
- attributes of Jupiter: thunderbolt [92B18(THUNDERBOLT)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beard [31A534] Search | Browse Iconclass
- brushes ~ implements of painter [48C5153] Search | Browse Iconclass
- container of paper, cardboard: bag, carton [41A778] Search | Browse Iconclass
- easel [48C5151] Search | Browse Iconclass
- farm or solitary house in landscape [25I3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- helmet [45C221] Search | Browse Iconclass
- lance, spear (symbol of sovereignty) [44B1922] Search | Browse Iconclass
- lightning, flash of lightning, thunderbolt [2600] Search | Browse Iconclass
- looking over the shoulder [31A247] Search | Browse Iconclass
- male persons from classical history (with NAME) non-aggressive activities of person from classical history [98B(LYSIPPUS)5] Search | Browse Iconclass
- one leg in front of the other, walking position (+ standing) [31A26211(+51)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- open door [41A3211] Search | Browse Iconclass
- open window [41A3311] Search | Browse Iconclass
- painter at work, in his studio [48C511] Search | Browse Iconclass
- palette [48C5152] Search | Browse Iconclass
- picture, painting [48C514] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sculptor in non-work situation [48C22] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sitting on an elevation [31A2352] Search | Browse Iconclass
- stool [41A7211] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- (story of) C. Julius Caesar [98B(CAESAR)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Flattery; 'Adulatione' (Ripa) [57AA6121] Search | Browse Iconclass
- minerals and metals (with NAME) [25D13(BRONZE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- negative criticism [48A22] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Roman gods and legends [96] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ruler, sovereign [44B1:3] Search | Browse Iconclass
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