OTTOMAR ELLIGER THE YOUNGER | Apelles before Alexander the Great and Campaspe

Anonymous sale ('The Property of a Gentleman'), London, Sotheby's, 29 October 1998, lot 102, where acquired. 

Possibly A. Pigler, Barockthemen. Eine Auswahl von Verzeichnissen zur Ikonographie des 17. und 18. Jahrhunderts, Budapest 1974, vol. II, p. 367;

C. Roll, Ottmar Elliger d.J. (1666-1732): Leben und Werk, doctoral diss., Augsburg 2002, cat. no. G.26;

W. Pijbes, M. Aarts, M.J. Bok et al, At Home in the Golden Age, exh. cat., Zwolle 2008, p. 51, cat. no. 29, reproduced in colour;

H.-J. Raupp (ed.), Niederländische Malerei des. 17. Jahrhunderts der SØR Rusche-Sammlung, vol. 4, Historien und Allegorien, Münster/Hamburg/London 2010, pp. 130–35, cat. no. 19, reproduced in colour.

The German-born Ottomar Elliger the Younger established himself as a history painter. He received his early training from his father, a realist still-life painter, as well as Michiel van Musscher, although it was the idealistic style discovered later in the studio of Gerard de Lairesse that had a profound impact on his artistic output, notable for its dramatic lighting and strong colouring. Apelles was commissioned to paint Alexander the Great's mistress, Campaspe (in the centre of this composition) and fell in love with her while doing so. In appreciation of the painter's work Alexander offered him Campaspe's hand, as well as a medal.