a very celebrated Greek painter, was a native of Canus in Caria, and flourished 330 B.C., in the time of Alexander the Great, being the contemporary of Apelles. Protogenes lived principally in Rhodes, where he was held in little honour by his neighbours, until Apelles paid him a visit, and declared that Protogenes was only inferior to himself in one particular, that he bestowed too much pains in finishing his paintings. From that moment the reputation of Protogenes was established. (See Apelles.) His finest painting was that representing Ialysus, the grandson of Sol, which he took seven years to finish, having put on it four courses of colour. Having been placed in a temple at Rhodes, when the city was besieged by Demetrius, the painting was in danger of being destroyed, when the conqueror is said to have retired rather than that it should run any risk. It was afterwards carried to Rome and placed in the Temple of Peace, where it was destroyed by fire. There was a dog in this picture, which the painter wished to represent with foam at its mouth; but, after many vain attempts, it is reported he threw his sponge in a fury at the spot, and by a strange accident produced the very effect he wanted. He also painted a satyr playing on the shepherd's pipe, which is said to have been very fine; likewise a portrait of Pythias, the mother of the philosopher Aristotle, a Pan, and portraits of Alexander. According to Suidas, he was the author of two books on painting, now lost.