Nealces of Sikyon
Nealkes or Nealces was an ancient Greek painter from Sicyon who flourished in the 3rd century BC. He was a friend of Aratus of Sicyon and after the liberation of their city in 251 BC he interceded to save an artful painting by Melanthius showing the former tyrant Aristratus of Sicyon with the goddess of victory Nike on a chariot. When Aratus insisted on the destruction of the portrait, Nealkes cried out in tears and finally offered to cancel the face by his own hand in order to save the rest of the artwork. He then painted a palm where the tyrant stood, but forgot his feet which remained visible underneath the chariot.
Also recorded as Nealkes
Nealces of Sikyon
- Born
- 300
- Died
- 260
- Occupation
- painter
- Languages
- Ancient Greek
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Nealkes or Nealces was an ancient Greek painter from Sicyon who flourished in the 3rd century BC. He was a friend of Aratus of Sicyon and after the liberation of their city in 251 BC he interceded to save an artful painting by Melanthius showing the former tyrant Aristratus of Sicyon with the goddess of victory Nike on a chariot. When Aratus insisted on the destruction of the portrait, Nealkes cried out in tears and finally offered to cancel the face by his own hand in order to save the rest of the artwork. He then painted a palm where the tyrant stood, but forgot his feet which remained visible underneath the chariot.
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wikidata · Q11790409 · wikipedia · Nealkes
In this article
Biography
Biography
The best known of his own paintings were a portrait of Aphrodite and a Battle on the Nile with a famous detail showing an ass on the bank of the river being attacked by a crocodile. His daughter was the painter Anaxandra, and his color-grinder was Erigonus, who was also a teacher of the modeller Aegineta.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
260
Nealces of Sikyon died.
300
Nealces of Sikyon born.
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reference work
- “Nealkes”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q11790409: Nealces of Sikyon
General reference · Wikidata
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Formation and teaching. Each of those relationships is stated by the authority record rather than inferred from style.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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