Essays on the art of Pheidias,

by Charles Waldstein

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. 1885 edition. Excerpt: ...to the plaque. The peculiar working of the edges of the relief in the Parthenon frieze to which attention has been drawn is maintained throughout in the terra-cotta, nay, it even acts disturbingly when we view it closely. The edge of the arm is worked straight down to the back-ground perpendicular to it, sometimes even slanting inwards. The outline of the face, especially the line of brow and nose, has the same straight cut edge. The head is highest in relief, and therefore the hair has suffered most from friction, being most prominent. So close is the resemblance of workmanship to that of the Parthenon frieze, that as there, so here, the stronger relief of the head is attained in adding to the actual greater height by sinking the ground around this upper part. The chiton is lastened in the same way above the shoulder, the brooch being more distinct in the plaque than in the frieze where it is more rubbed away. From this point the chief folds of the drapery radiate, two running above the right breast under the upper seam of the garment, which projects in a similar manner above the left breast in both instances. From the shoulder, running between the right breast and the opening at the side, there are five fold-grooves, the upper ones running towards the centre of the figure, where they break up into numerous transverse folds, while the lower ones are subdivided by smaller grooves, less denned in the plaque and more clearly cut in the frieze. The triangular opening is identical, as also the manner in which it runs out into a curved fold at the bottom. Below it there is the same cavernous fold, and between it and the arm the drapery is subdivided in both instances by a small groove and a larger one towards the arm, in the plaque the smaller...

431 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2013

About the author

Sir Charles Waldstein, known as Sir Charles Walston from 1918–1927, was an Anglo-American archaeologist.