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A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume 1 (of 2)Smith, A. H. (Arthur Hamilton)

History

A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume 1 (of 2)

Name: A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume 1 (of 2)
Author: Smith, A. H. (Arthur Hamilton)

Smith, A. H. (Arthur Hamilton)

Sculpture, Greco-Roman -- Catalogs; Sculpture, Greek -- Catalogs

This metope, the 30th in the series, much resembles No. 311, both in
composition and in style. The Lapith has fallen with his left leg bent
under him; his left arm rests on a stone, which he grasps in his left
hand. His right hand, which is disarmed, presses feebly against the
left side of the Centaur, who with his left hand seizes the hair of
his antagonist, and presses his left forefoot on his right thigh,
drawing back his right arm to deal a blow. The countenance of the
Lapith expresses bodily pain, as if he had just been half stunned by a
blow on the head. His bent knee does not yet touch the ground, but
the action of the Centaur deprives him of all chance of recovering
his erect position. A lion's skin floats in the air at the back of the
Centaur. A chlamys hangs from the right arm of the Lapith, and passes
behind his back. The treatment of both the heads is a little austere,
but the bodies are well modelled, and the composition is finely
conceived. There are on this metope some remains of the bead and reel
moulding on the upper margin.

  _Mus. Marbles_, VII., pl. 12; Michaelis, pl. 4, xxx.;
  _Stereoscopic_, No. 93.

[Sidenote: =320.=]

In this metope, the 31st of the original series, the Centaur seems to
have the advantage. The Lapith has, with his right hand, seized him
by the hair, pressing his right knee on the Centaur's breast; his
left arm is drawn back, and has been slightly bent at the elbow. The
Centaur, rearing up, grasps his antagonist by the throat, twisting his
forelegs round the Lapith's right leg, so as to paralyse its action.
The position of the Centaur is obviously much the stronger, and the
bent left knee of the Lapith indicates that he is tottering. We do not
know what weapon he held in his hand. The composition in this metope
is very good. In the faces there is the same austere character as in
No. 319. This metope seems in the same state as when drawn by Carrey.

  _Mus. Marbles_, VII., pl. 13; Baumeister, _Denkmaeler_, p. 1178,
  fig. 1367; Michaelis, pl. 4, xxxi.; _Stereoscopic_, No. 94.

[Sidenote: =321.=]

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume 1 (of 2)Smith, A. H. (Arthur Hamilton)

History

A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume 1 (of 2)

Smith, A. H. (Arthur Hamilton)

Sculpture, Greco-Roman -- Catalogs; Sculpture, Greek -- Catalogs

This metope, the 30th in the series, much resembles No. 311, both in
composition and in style. The Lapith has fallen with his left leg bent
under him; his left arm rests on a stone, which he grasps in his left
hand. His right hand, which is disarmed, presses feebly against the
left side of the Centaur, who with his left hand seizes the hair of
his antagonist, and presses his left forefoot on his right thigh,
drawing back his right arm to deal a blow. The countenance of the
Lapith expresses bodily pain, as if he had just been half stunned by a
blow on the head. His bent knee does not yet touch the ground, but
the action of the Centaur deprives him of all chance of recovering
his erect position. A lion's skin floats in the air at the back of the
Centaur. A chlamys hangs from the right arm of the Lapith, and passes
behind his back. The treatment of both the heads is a little austere,
but the bodies are well modelled, and the composition is finely
conceived. There are on this metope some remains of the bead and reel
moulding on the upper margin.

  _Mus. Marbles_, VII., pl. 12; Michaelis, pl. 4, xxx.;
  _Stereoscopic_, No. 93.

[Sidenote: =320.=]

In this metope, the 31st of the original series, the Centaur seems to
have the advantage. The Lapith has, with his right hand, seized him
by the hair, pressing his right knee on the Centaur's breast; his
left arm is drawn back, and has been slightly bent at the elbow. The
Centaur, rearing up, grasps his antagonist by the throat, twisting his
forelegs round the Lapith's right leg, so as to paralyse its action.
The position of the Centaur is obviously much the stronger, and the
bent left knee of the Lapith indicates that he is tottering. We do not
know what weapon he held in his hand. The composition in this metope
is very good. In the faces there is the same austere character as in
No. 319. This metope seems in the same state as when drawn by Carrey.

  _Mus. Marbles_, VII., pl. 13; Baumeister, _Denkmaeler_, p. 1178,
  fig. 1367; Michaelis, pl. 4, xxxi.; _Stereoscopic_, No. 94.

[Sidenote: =321.=]

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume 1 (of 2)

A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume 1 (of 2)

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