Proceedings of the expedition to explore the northern coast of Africa, from Tripoly eastward : $b in MDCCCXXI. and MDCCCXXII., comprehending an account of the Greater Syrtis and Cyrenaica; and of the ancient cities composing the pentapolisBeechey, Frederick William
History
Proceedings of the expedition to explore the northern coast of Africa, from Tripoly eastward : $b in MDCCCXXI. and MDCCCXXII., comprehending an account of the Greater Syrtis and Cyrenaica; and of the ancient cities composing the pentapolis
Beechey, Frederick William
Sidra, Gulf of (Libya); Tripoli (Libya) -- Antiquities; Tripoli (Libya) -- Discovery and exploration
It may be inferred from the copies which we have made of these
designs, (which, although they are as good as we could make them,
naturally fall very short of the perfection of the originals,)
that the drawing of the figures is in excellent style, and the
actions at once expressive, easy, and graceful; what we have most
failed in is the expression of the countenances, which, though
produced merely by a single outline, we were wholly unable to
copy at all to our satisfaction. The characters and features are
what are usually called Grecian, and remind us strongly, in the
originals, of those of the figures represented on some of the most
highly finished Greek (or in other words, Etruscan) vases. The
draperies are well arranged, and executed with great taste and
freedom; they appear, like the other parts of the compositions,
to have been painted at once, without any alteration, and with
the greatest facility imaginable. It will be observed that the
turban has in several instances been adopted; and the shape of
some of these is more oriental than any which we remember to have
seen in Greek designs. It is singular also that all the figures
appear to have been black, with the exception of that of the old
man in the last group, which has certainly been red; yet there is
nothing either Moorish or Ethiopian in the characters represented;
which, from the outlines, we should suppose to be Grecian. We have
no solution to offer for this apparent inconsistency; and will not
venture to suggest what may have been the subjects of the several
pieces. They appear to represent some connected story; yet the same
persons are not certainly introduced in all, if indeed in any two
of the compositions. In the first group two females, both of them
young, appear engaged in some interesting conversation. The second
may perhaps represent the same persons, but it is difficult to say
whether the rod in the hand of the standing figure is raised for
the purpose of chastisement, or whether it is intended to represent
the performance of some magic ceremony. The finger which is raised
towards the lips of this figure seems rather to be indicative of
imposing silence than of conveying admonition; and the arm and hand
of the person kneeling appear to be more expressive of veneration
or submission, than of either alarm or supplication. There is
a curious appearance on the head of this figure which somewhat
resembles in form the twisted lock of the Egyptian Horus, but
its colour is decidedly red, while that of the other parts of the
head are uncertain. The lower part of this figure has been so much
rubbed as to be nearly unintelligible, and the face has disappeared
altogether. A similar accident has happened to one of the preceding
figures, the lower part of which is not now distinguishable. In the
third group we see a female figure with a helmet closely fitted to
the shape of the head, bearing on her shoulder an ark, or canistrum;
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