Praxiteles quom a Veneris statua, quae indecenter intuebatur, iterum atque iterum suasionibus, cohortationibus, precibus atque denique conviciis et comminationibus frustra petisset ut oculorum vitium emendaret, ferro tandem id ipsum tollendum censuit.
(Leon Battista Alberti, Apologi Centum 68)
When Praxiteles’ statue of Venus leered indecently, the sculptor tried repeatedly to correct the defect in its gaze, using arguments, pleas, prayers, and finally insults and threats. But all these failed, and at last he decided to fix the problem with his chisel. (tr. David Marsh)
Crambe Repetita 