), a painter who flourished in the time of Aratus, B. C. 245. Plutarch relates that, when Aratus was destroying the pictures of the tyrants, Melanthius's picture of Aristratus was saved by the intercession of Nealces, who painted over with a black colour the figure of Aristratus, but left the rest of the picture uninjured (Plut. Arat. 13
). Pliny mentions with high praise his Venus and his naval battle between the Egyptians and the Persians (H. N.
35.11. s. 40, §§ 36, 41).
A curious story is told of another of his pictures by Pliny (35.10. s. 36.20
). His daughter Alexandria was also a painter (Didymus, ap. Clem. Alex. Strom.
iv. p. 381c.) His colour-grinder Erigonus also became a distinguished painter.