Botticelli's Final Mythological Painting: The Calumny of Apelles at the Uffizi

Sandro Botticelli's last mythological painting, The Calumny of Apelles (1495), is housed in the Uffizi in Florence, Italy. It draws on a lost work by the ancient Greek painter Apelles, reconstructed from a description by Lucian in his Dialogues. The painting is small—62 x 91 cm—and its detailed technique resembles miniature painting rather than typical panel works. This suggests it was not meant for public display but for private enjoyment on special occasions. Botticelli may have created it to express resentment over an unjust sodomy accusation, as the subject mirrors Apelles' false accusation by his rival Antiphilos for plotting against the king of Egypt. In the allegory, a young man in a loincloth represents Apelles' anger and shame. He is dragged before the king's throne by Calumny, who holds a torch. Fraud arranges her hair with white ribbons, while Perfidy decorates it with roses. The king, with donkey ears of Midas, listens to Ignorance and Suspicion. Rancour (Envy) in a black cloak obscures the king's view. On the left, naked Truth points to the heavens, juxtaposed with an old woman in black mourning representing Punishment. The work is stunning in detail, allegory, and precision, yet remains relatively unknown.