Burrow, Edward John: The Elgin marbles: with an abridged historical and topographical account of Athens (Band 1): Illustrated with forty plates (London, 1817)

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formal; the upper part, adhering to the breast
which is of very youthful mould, has a more
graceful character. It might be supposed, had
not this fragment been found in the same pe*
diment with those before described, that the
statue was intended for some greater eminence,
and to produce a strong effect at a considerable
distance. It may also be observed, that the
mode in which the veil is connected with the
figure is artificial, and not in the pure taste
we are accustomed to contemplate in the
Athenian marbles: the tunic is inflated on
the back, so as to resemble in some degree
short projecting wings, or rather, as if the wings,
with which Iris is often represented, were ac-
tually extended underneath it. The mass of
stone from which the mantle of the goddess
has been sculptured is thus supported; and
doubtless demanded some support, but still
the tact of Phidias is not here. We rather
expect to meet with contrivances of this de-
scription in the later ages, in the declension
of the arts. The attitude is, however, light,
eager, and expressive; and, as the most per*
feet of the standing figures, the statue is doubt-*