Apud L. Mallium, qui optimus pictor Romae habebatur, Servilius Geminus forte cenabat cumque filios eius deformes vidisset, “non similiter,” inquit, “Malli, fingis et pingis.” et Mallius, “in tenebris enim fingo,” inquit, “luce pingo.”
(Macrobius, Sat. 2.2.10)
Servilius Geminus happened to be dining at the home of Lucius Mallius, then considered the best painter in Rome, when he saw Mallius’ two ugly sons: “You don’t make children,” he said, “the way you make pictures.” “That,” said Mallius, “is because I make children in the dark, pictures in the light.” (tr. Robert A. Kaster)
