The story of Apelles and the presumptuous shoemaker has been passed down through the centuries for our reflection and edification. It is a tale worth telling today.
Apelles is considered one of the greatest painters of the ancient world, though none of his works have survived the ages so we can see them with our own eyes. But in his day, his reputation was well-established and he was known for his hard work, his obsession with detail, and his exquisite art. One of his phrases has survived him: ”nulla dies sine linea”, or “no day without its line.” So committed was he to his craft that he would not consider any day complete until he had done something to improve his skill.
The Roman author Pliny the Elder tells us that as part of Apelles’ endless pursuit of perfection, he would display his finished paintings on a balcony, then hide himself so he could hear the comments of those who passed by. He believed their critiques might point out flaws he had missed and in that way generate valuable suggestions for improvement. On one occasion he displayed a painting and listened quietly while a shoemaker pointed out a
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