The Calumny of Apelles stages a vivid allegory of accusation and deception. Inspired by a now-lost work of the Greek painter Apelles, Vanderlyn depicts a procession of personified figures: Envy leads, followed by Fraud and Deceit guiding Calumny, who drags a falsely accused man before a foolish King Midas. Truth stands nearby, pointing to the heavens, largely ignored.

John Vanderlyn (1775–1852) was one of America’s first academically trained painters, known for his neoclassical style and engagement with classical narratives. Through precise composition and classical detail, The Calumny of Apelles revives an ancient story while offering a timeless moral reflection on the dangers of slander, manipulation, and human credulity.

Product Details: Cotton and polyester canvas on Radiata pine wood frame sourced from renewable forests. Includes back mounting.

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To offer a broad range of sizes, each image is carefully adapted to its canvas dimensions. As a result, slight variations in composition may occur, and some reproductions may differ subtly from the original work.

Our canvases feature mirrored edges to create a seamless wrap-around effect without altering the original image. This effect is more noticeable on smaller canvas sizes.