A History Of Ancient Sculpture PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1883 edition. Excerpt: ...Polycleitos represented twice, --once as a leader (Hagctcr) seizing his weapons, and, again, as fighting the Hydra.?26 Of his statue of an Amazon we know somewhat more. The story is, that statues of the Amazons were required for the Temple of Artemis at Ephesos, that spot where the conquered heroines had taken refuge in mythic ages, when hard pressed by Dionysos.?2? The most celebrated artists came together with their statues, to select from among them the best. According to Pliny's anecdote, each gave the preference to his own work; but, after that, all agreed first upon the Amazon by Polycleitos, --the one by Pheidias taking the second, that of Cresilas the third, and that of Phradmon the fourth place. Whatever credence may be given to this tradition, it may contain a kernel of truth, indicating the superiority of Polycleitos' representation of these masculine females. Several types of wounded and fatigued Amazons, incorrectly restored, exist, which doubtless go back to celebrated originals of the time of Pheidias and Polycleitos.?28 Among them three distinct types are evident, illustrated in statues in Rome, Berlin, and Paris. One represents an Amazon, who wears a large mantle, and seems to be staying the blood trickling from her wounded breast, with one end of her chiton caught up in the left hand. Her head is dropped slightly; and the arm, restored as raised, should, according to a gem now in Paris, be resting on a long spear, which supports the unhappy, conquered woman. The second type shows us, not a wounded, but a wearied, Amazon. She stands resting, with the right hand on some object, now gone, possibly her battle-axe; while her left is placed on her head, in the attitude so often employed to express repose in Greek art. This type...