Apelles and the Cobbler

Pliny again provided the basis for the portrayal of Apelles and the cobbler on the south-east wall. According to Pliny’s tale, the Greek painter Apelles liked to present his works to the general public after their completion, to hear their opinion, because he was of the opinion that the verdict of nonexpert viewers could include many important points. At such times, he hid himself, so that his presence did not influence anyone. One day, a cobbler came and criticised the representation of a sandal in a picture. Apelles, who felt that the criticism was justified, revised his painting as a consequence. The cobbler came again the next day. Pleased that the painter had taken his objection seriously, he proceeded to criticise the painting technique used for a leg. This enraged Apelles, who came out of his hiding place and punished the cobbler with the words that remain a proverb until today: “Ne sutor ultra crepidam” (Cobbler, do not judge higher than the sandals). The power of judgment (“giudizio”), schooled with intellectual and practical experience, to which this story alludes, occupies an important role in Vasari’s theory of art. The artist can use it as a self-test, with the help of which he can avoid excessively unrestrained ideas. However, the issue of individual taste also plays a role in this case; according to Vasari, only true connoisseurs of art will reach a common verdict due to their application of the same criteria in their analysis.