Pasiteles

• a famous Greek carver in relief, who came to Rome: hanc speciem Pasiteles caelavit argento, Cic. Div. 1, 36, 79; Plin. 35, 12, 45, § 156; 36, 5, 4, § 39.

(Πασιτέλης). A Greek artist of the first century B.C., a native of southern Italy. He was actively engaged at Rome on important works in marble, ivory, silver, and bronze, and was also an author. He originated a new school, which was not immediately connected with any of the existing tendencies of art, but was founded on a careful study of nature and the masterpieces of earlier sculptors. It aimed above all things at correctness of form, combined with elegance of representation and a mastery of technique. Pasiteles chased in silver a representation of the infant Roscius ( De Div. i. 79), and executed an ivory statue of Iupiter for the temple dedicated by Metellus (Pliny , Pliny H. N. xxxvi. 40). According to his contemporary Varro, he never executed any work without modelling it first (ib. xxxv. 156). Among his pupils was Stephanus, who in his turn was the master of Menelaüs.

• Paus. 5.20.2