The Calumny of Apelles (1560): Art, History and Details

The Calumny of Apelles (1560) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection. The museum's creator attribution is Giorgio Ghisi (Italian, 1520–1582); Luca Penni (Italian, 1500/04–1557).

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

This allegory of injustice, popular with Renaissance artists for its moral content, is based on a written description of a lost painting by the ancient Greek artist Apelles. An enthroned judge with large ears is flanked by Suspicion and blindfolded Ignorance. He extends a hand to Calumny (Slander), who, helped by Envy, drags a young man by the hair into court. This youth protests his innocence to Truth and Time, who descend on a cloud to reveal Calumny’s lies and vindicate the accused. Deceit stands behind Calumny with a large net, while Repentance casts an apologetic glance toward Truth from beside the window.

Object facts

• Title: The Calumny of Apelles
• Date: 1560
• Creator attribution: Giorgio Ghisi (Italian, 1520–1582); Luca Penni (Italian, 1500/04–1557)
• Culture: Italy
• Type: Print
• Technique: engraving
• Dimensions: Platemark: 36.9 x 31.9 cm (14 1/2 x 12 9/16 in.); Sheet: 37.3 x 32.3 cm (14 11/16 x 12 11/16 in.)
• Collection: PR - Engraving
• Department: Prints
• Accession number: 2012.8

Collection credit

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund

Further reading listed by the museum

• Mann, C. Griffith. “Acquisitions 2012.” Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine 53, no. 2 (March/April 2013): 10-25.

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.