A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

a Roman modeller, who lived in the first century B. C., and who was mentioned as an acquaintance by M. Varro, according to whom he made apples and grapes, which it was impossible to distinguish from the real objects. (Varro, apud Plin. H. N. 35.12. s. 45. The text of the passage is very corrupt; but there can be little doubt that the reading as restored by Gronovius gives the meaning fairly, namely: M. Varro tradit sibi cognitum Romae Posim nomine, a quo facta poma et ucas, ut non possis discernere a veris.) These imitations of fruit must have been first modelled, and then painted. Their truthfulness would suggest the suspicion that they were in wax; but, from the absence of any statement to that effect, it must be supposed that they were only in some kind of clay. or stucco or gypsum.

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