The Wise and Ingenious Companion, French and English; / or, A Collection of the Wit of the Illustrious Persons, Both Ancient and Modern

by Abel Boyer

7

Apelles the famous Painter, drew the Picture of Alexander the Great on Horse-back, and presented it to him; but Alexander not praising it as so excellent a Piece deserved, Apelles desired a living Horse might be brought, who seeing the Picture, fell to pawing and neighing, taking it to be a real one; whereupon Apelles told him, his Horse understood Painting better than himself.

7

Apelles le fameux Peintre, fit le Portrait d’Alexandre le Grand à Cheval, & le lui presenta, mais comme Alexandre ne loüoit pas assez un si excellent Ouvrage, Apelles demanda qu’on fit venir un Cheval en Vie, lequel à la veuë du portrait se mit à trepigner des Pieds, & à hennir, le prenant pour une realité; surquoy Apelles, lui dit, que son Cheval s’entendoit mieux en Peinture que lui.