Describe the characteristics of the Borrowings and style in Calumny of Apelles (Botticelli)'s Subject.
Ronald Lightbown considers the painting may have originally been intended for Botticelli's own pleasure and use, as the Mystic Nativity seems to have been.  Without any description of the setting in Lucian or Alberti, Botticelli has imagined a throne room very elaborately decorated with sculptures and reliefs of classical heroes, creatures from ancient myth, and battle scenes.  The extensive reliefs around the room contain some quotations from earlier paintings of his, including the spalliere paintings of the story of Nastalgio degli Onesti, and his Return of Judith to Betulia.  The figure of "Truth" is clearly derived from the Venus of his Birth of Venus.  The Saint George-like statue in a niche above the central group seems to be from a fresco by Andrea del Castagno.
Other scenes probably derive from ancient engraved gems, and one recreates another of Lucian's descriptions, of a family of centaurs by Zeuxis (below the throne).  In general, though many of the subjects of the decorative sculpture are classical, the style of their depiction, especially in the statues, is firmly from Botticelli's own period.  The palace is beside the sea, which can be seen, flat and plain, through the windows; as often, Botticelli has little interest in enlivening his depiction of landscape with detail.  The living figures contrast in style with the statues, and are all thin and elongated in a rather mannered way.
According to Frederick Hartt, "some of the oppressive effect of the Calumny is produced by its illogical space".  Most of the architecture has a more or less consistent vanishing point, around the head of Fraud, but the central cornice and vaults use one a good deal lower. The movement of the narrative action across the picture space conflicts with the strong pull of the perspective to the back of the picture space.
vanishing point Lucian Zeuxis centaur fresco Ronald Lightbown Andrea del Castagno relief Birth of Venus Frederick Hartt Saint George engraved gem spalliere