a famous ancient painter of Ephesus, or, as some say, of Athens: he flourished about the time of Socrates, according to Xenophon, who hath introduced him into a dialogue disagreeing with that philosopher. He was one of the best painters in his time. Pliny says, that it was he who first gave symmetry and just proportions in that art; that he was likewise the first who knew how to express the truth and life of characters, and the different airs of the face; that he discovered a beautiful disposition of the hair, and heightened the grace of the village. It is allowed even by the masters in the art, that he far outshone them in the glory of succeeding in the outlines, in which consists the grand secret of painting. But it is also remarked by Pliny, that Parrhasius became infatigable with pride; and was so very vain as to give himself the most flattering epithets; such as, the tenderest, the softest, the greatest, the most delicate, and the perfectest of his art. He boasted that he was sprung from Apollo, and that he was born to paint the gods; that he had actually drawn Hercules touch by touch; that hero having often appeared to him in dreams. When the plurality of voices was against him at Samos in favour of Timanthes, in the opinion of a picture of Ajax provoked against the Greeks, for adjudging to Ulysses the arms of Achilles, he answered a person who condoled him on his check, "For my part I don't trouble myself at the sentence; but I am sorry that the son of Telamon, hath received a greater outrage than that which was formerly put upon him so unjustly." Aelian relates this story, and tells us that Parrhasius affected to wear a crown of gold upon his head, and to carry in his hand a baton, ruddled with nails of the same metal. He worked at his art with plesantry, often indeed fingering. He was very licentious and loose in his pictures; and he is said, by way of amusement, to have represented the most infamous objects. His Atalantis, with her spouse Meleager, was of this kind. This piece was afterwards devised as a legacy to the emperor Tiberius, upon condition that, if he was displeased with the subject, he should receive a million sesterces instead of it. The emperor, covetous as he was, not only preferred the picture to that sum, but even placed it in his most favourite apartment. It is also said, that, though Parrhasius was excelled by Timanthes, yet he excelled Zeuxis. Among his pictures is a celebrated one of Theseus; and another representing Meleager, Hercules, and Perseus in a group together; as also Æneas, with Caïstor and Pollux, in a third.

Janus, a famous grammarian in Italy, who was born at Cofenza in the kingdom of Naples, 1470. He was intended for the law, the profession of his ancestors; but he refused it, and cultivated classical learning. His real name was Johannes Paulus Parrhasius; but according to the humour of the grammarians of the age, he took instead of it Parrhasius. He taught at Milan with much reputation, being admired for a grace-