Home1860 Edition

LEOCHARES

Volume 13 · 140 words · 1860 Edition

an Athenian sculptor, is mentioned by Pliny as living B.C. 372. In B.C. 352, he was one of those employed to erect the famous mausoleum in honour of Mausolus, King of Caria. He was engaged, along with other artists, in commemorating Philip's victory at Charonea, B.C. 338, and produced, for that purpose, his famous portrait statues of Philip, Alexander, Amyntas, Olympias, and Eurydice. The time of his death is unknown. His masterpiece was the Rape of Ganymede, by the bird of Jove, a bronze statue, which was much admired in its own time; and though now known only through very imperfect marble copies, still charms by its blended grace and dignity. The best copy is in the Museo Pio-Clementino. Of his other statues, the most famous are his Jupiter Tonans, characterized by Pliny as "ante euncta laudabilem," and his Autolycus.