- land of flowers, called Stephanopolis, or the Garland
Twiner, was reckoned his masterpiece. So great was the fame of it, that Lucius Lucullus gave for a copy, at Athens, two talents, or about two thousand dollars.
PROTOGENES, THE GREAT RHODIAN PAINTER.
The most famous of his works was the picture of
Ialysus and his Dog, which occupied him seven
years. The dog, represented as panting and foaming
at the mouth, was greatly admired; and it is related
that Protogenes was for a long time unable to
represent the foam in the manner he wished, till at
length he threw his sponge in a fury at the mouth,
and produced the very effect he desired! The fame
of this painting was so great, that, according to
Pliny, Demetrius Poliorcetes, when besieging Rhodes,
did not assault that part of the city where Protogenes
lived, lest he should destroy the picture. His
studio was situated without the walls, where, to the
astonishment of the besiegers, he continued to paint
with perfect tranquillity. This coming to the ears
of Demetrius, he ordered the artist to be brought to
his tent, and demanded how he could persist in the
quiet exercise of his profession, when surrounded
by enemies? Protogenes replied that he did not
consider himself in any danger, convinced that a
great prince like Demetrius did not make war
against the Arts, but against the Rhodians.
