Nicomachus of Thebes

Nicomachus of Thebes was an ancient Greek painter of the Theban school, active in the first half of the 4th century BC. The son and pupil of a painter, he in turn trained other artists, among them Philoxenus of Eretria and Nicophanes. His reputation rests mainly on the praise he received from ancient writers: Cicero, Plutarch and Vitruvius placed him among the leading artists of his time, and Pliny the Elder records that he used only four colours: white, black, red and yellow.

Among his works, Pliny mentions a Rape of Proserpina and a Victory in a Quadriga, both kept in Rome, as well as a Cybele seated on a lion, Bacchantes surprised by satyrs, an Ulysses and a Scylla. He left Les Tindarides unfinished, though it is counted among his finest paintings. Pliny notes that he tended to leave commissions until the last moment, which in his view kept him from achieving even greater renown. Vitruvius attributed his smaller fame more to fortune than to any lack of talent. He should not be confused with another Nicomachus, a engraver of precious stones.