The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 6 (of 6)

Chapter 211: CHAP. 39.—ARTISTS WHO HAVE PAINTED IN ENCAUSTICS OR WAX, WITH EITHER THE CESTRUM OR THE PENCIL.

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An encyclopedic survey that first catalogs marine animals, algae, and shellfish, describing habitats, curious behaviors, reported antipathies, and numerous folk remedies and practical uses attributed to specific species, organized by ailments and applications. The later portion treats metals and their ores—including gold, silver, mercury, copper, and brass—describing modes of occurrence, extraction, alloying, testing, gilding, and decorative and monetary uses, alongside technical observations and medicinal remedies derived from metallic substances, with systematic lists and practical instructions interwoven throughout.

CHAP. 39.—ARTISTS WHO HAVE PAINTED IN ENCAUSTICS OR WAX, WITH EITHER THE CESTRUM OR THE PENCIL.

It is not agreed who was the inventor of the art of painting in wax and in encaustic.2095 Some think that it was a discovery of the painter Aristides,2096 and that it was afterwards brought to perfection by Praxiteles: but there are encaustic paintings in existence, of a somewhat prior date to them, those by Polygnotus,2097 for example, and by Nicanor and Arcesilaüs,2098 natives of Paros. Elasippus too, has inscribed upon a picture of his at Ægina, the word ἐνέκαεν;2099 a thing that he certainly could not have done, if the art of encaustic painting had not been then invented.