The Hellenistic reliefs may be divided into three classes: the
pastoral reliefs such as the scenes showing sheep and a lioness and
cubs, called the Grimani reliefs, in Vienna; mythological reliefs
like the Bellerophon and Pegasus of the Palazzo Spada,[50] or Perseus
and Andromeda of the Capitol[51] in Rome; and more complicated little
scenes or groups like the Menander relief of the Lateran,[52] the
Apotheosis of Homer,[53] the slaying of the Niobids,[54] or the visit
of Dionysos to a dramatic poet.[55] They are all closely related to
painting--how closely a reference to Pompeian wall-paintings or mosaics
like the famous Praenestine pavement will show--but there are some
differences between the groups which are worthy of mention. The
pastoral scenes are straightforward and naturalistic. The little group
of a countryman driving a cow past a ruined temple in Munich is a good
example of straightforward naturalism. The mythological reliefs are
usually distinctly affected in style. The gesture with which Perseus
receives Andromeda is like that of an exquisite handing a lady from
her carriage. Bellerophon waters his horse with a nonchalant air.[56]
Daedalos and Icaros[57] present a curious mixture of affectation and
realism. But it may now be regarded as certain that the Spada reliefs
are Augustan in date at the earliest, and the affectation may well be
imported. This is, indeed, partially demonstrated by a comparison of
the two copies of the Daedalos-Icaros group in the Villa Albani, of
which one is Roman, the other probably late Hellenistic. At the same
time it is remarkable that the figures of the mythological reliefs all
show the long slender proportions of Lysippos. This at once suggests a
Rhodian connexion. Mythological groups are favourites in Rhodes, and it
is the one place where the Lysippic tradition certainly lasted. It is
not a wholly hazardous suggestion to propose a Rhodian origin for the
mythological, and an Alexandrian origin for the pastoral, reliefs. One
might be tempted, therefore, to ascribe the most intimate and domestic
scenes to Pergamon, but there is insufficient evidence for proof at
present, though the reliefs deserve careful study with these possible
divisions in mind.
In general we can only point out their fine naturalism and perfect
execution. Their artists seem to have mastered all the problems of
perspective and to deal with the third dimension as easily as with the
other two. It is natural to notice some advance in freedom of style.
The earlier reliefs, like the Telephos frieze, or the Dolon relief,[58]
are in less pronounced relief and with less carefully conceived
perspective. Later reliefs like the so-called Menander relief show
some of the figures in part detached from the background, while the
perspective of a group is most subtly graded. We may compare the finest
of them with the bronze doors of the Florentine Baptistery and their
marvellous panels.
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