page_title: Lais of Corinth
hierarchical_section_title: Lais of Corinth
caption_attribution_description: English: Venus and Amor This painting portrays the famous Lais of Corinth, a courtesan of ancient Greece who charged a high price for her favours. It has been suggested that Holbein is also referring to the Lais who was the lover of Apelles, the great painter of antiquity (Holbein was called "Apelles" in humanist circles). The model, the same used for Holbein's Darmstadt Madonna and for his Venus and Amor (right), has been identified as Magdalena Offenburg, who may have been Holbein's mistress. Holbein's Lais was painted a year or two after Venus and Amor and, in effect, acts as its companion piece, though Holbein does not appear to have originally planned the second painting. According to some commentators, the portrayal of the sitter as a courtesan may contain a coded message by Holbein about his relationship with Magdalena. Art historian Peter Claussen, however, dismisses this interpretation as "pure nonsense". Both paintings employ the same colours and depict the same costume and drapery. Holbein adopts the style of Leonardo and the Lombard muralists, whose work he may have studied during a visit to Italy. He uses Leonardo's sfumato (smoky) technique to blend the skin tones, as well as the device of the parapet to set the subject back from the viewer. (References: Buck, pp. 44–43; Derek Wilson, Hans Holbein: Portrait of an Unknown Man, London: Pimlico, 2006, ISBN&#160;1844139182, pp. 112–13; Peter Claussen, "Holbein's Career between City and Court", in Müller, Kemperdick, Ainsworth, et al, Hans Holbein: The Basel Years, 1515–1532, Munich: Prestel, 2006, ISBN&#160;9783791360522, p. 47.)
context_page_description: Lais of Corinth was a famous hetaira or courtesan of ancient Greece who was probably born in Corinth. A younger hetaira with the same name was Lais of Hyccara. Since ancient authors often confuse them or do not indicate to which one they refer, the two are inextricably linked. Lais lived during the Peloponnesian War and was said to be the most beautiful woman of the time. Among her clients were the philosopher Aristippus and the Olympic champion Eubotas of Cyrene.
  Aelian relates a tradition that either she or the other Lais held the nickname "Axine" for the sharpness of her cruelty.
context_section_description: Lais of Corinth (fl. 425 BC) was a famous hetaira or courtesan of ancient Greece who was probably born in Corinth. A younger hetaira with the same name was Lais of Hyccara. Since ancient authors (in their usually indirect accounts) often confuse them or do not indicate to which one they refer, the two are inextricably linked. Lais lived during the Peloponnesian War and was said to be the most beautiful woman of the time. Among her clients were the philosopher Aristippus (two of his alleged writings were about Lais) and the Olympic champion Eubotas of Cyrene.
  Aelian relates a tradition that either she or the other Lais held the nickname "Axine" (or axehead) for the sharpness of her cruelty.
caption: Lais of Corinth by Hans Holbein the Younger, Kunstmuseum Basel
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