Pictor in fabula

The famous Coan Venus, painted by him, was the admiration of every succeeding age, till the time of Cicero, who marks its perfection in colour as approaching the truth, softness, and warmth of real flesh and blood. The same artist, after this, attempted a second Venus, which was to have exceeded all his former productions; but dying before he had executed more than the head and breasts, no painter, we are told (such was its superlative excellence) could be prevailed on to attempt its completion. Now, as we must suppose, in this case, that the idea, character, and style of design were determined, it seems to follow, that what the artists dreaded in particular was a comparison of their colouring with the truly inimitable beauty of his.