Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 Excerpt:...on it. On the left as you enter is a large relief (126) from Eleusis representing Demeter, Persephone, and Triptolemus. The boy stands between the two female figures, one of whom places her hand on his head in blessing. The composition of the group and its draperies is majestic and graceful, and the whole impression highly religious. The treatment of the hair is fine. The work probably dates from the middle of the fifth century, and is executed in very low relief. Next to it is a head of Athena, with the coloured enamel eyes still in their place. They give a singularly vivid expression to the face, very different from the blank look which modern sculptors leave in their works. The next two heads are probably originals from the hand of Scopas (179, 180), and therefore, mutilated as they are, command our attention. The dramatic force and intensity of expression which they give is obtained partly by the choice of type, the square head and jaw and deep-set eye. But the artist of the fourth century makes the expression of emotion his object rather than that of character, which was the object of the fifth-century artist. These heads and that of the boar are probably from the pediments of the temple of Athena Alea at Tegea. The boar formed part of the Calydonian boar-hunt of the western pediment. The eastern represented the combat of Telephus and Achilles. The head (181) near has been called "Eubuleus," but it is so distinctly reminiscent of the Alexander type as to date itself. The head of a goddess (182) is a wonder of soft modelling. It is perhaps tilted a little too much, which spoils its effect somewhat. The head (183) found in the sea at Laurium is coated with metal. It is probably an Aphrodite. In the niches above are two Victories from the sanctu...