DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15097#0025
23
modellers, and a figure painter, whom he dispatched
to Athens in the summer of 1800. At this time Egypt
was in the hands of the French, and the ambassador was
not able to hold out any sufficient political inducement
to the Turkish government to relax from the vexa-
tious restrictions which they habitually place upon the
movements and researches of Christians in general.
Under such want of facility and accommodation, the
artists could make but little progress, especially as the
Acropolis, the treasure house of ancient art, was only
accessible to them upon the daily payment of a con-
siderable fee. This state of things continued for about
nine months, when the success of the British arms in
Egypt affording an expectation of the restitution of
that province to the dominion of the Sultan, a remark-
able change was perceptible in the behaviour of
the people as well as of the government. Goodwill
took place of suspicion and hostility; every facility
was afforded, every assistance offered, and every
request granted. Lord Elgin availed himself amply
of this favourable alteration in the state of affairs, and
extending his views with the increasing prospect of
accomplishing them, obtained permission, not merely
to visit the Acropolis without interruption, in order to
make drawings, but also to cast moulds, to erect
modellers, and a figure painter, whom he dispatched
to Athens in the summer of 1800. At this time Egypt
was in the hands of the French, and the ambassador was
not able to hold out any sufficient political inducement
to the Turkish government to relax from the vexa-
tious restrictions which they habitually place upon the
movements and researches of Christians in general.
Under such want of facility and accommodation, the
artists could make but little progress, especially as the
Acropolis, the treasure house of ancient art, was only
accessible to them upon the daily payment of a con-
siderable fee. This state of things continued for about
nine months, when the success of the British arms in
Egypt affording an expectation of the restitution of
that province to the dominion of the Sultan, a remark-
able change was perceptible in the behaviour of
the people as well as of the government. Goodwill
took place of suspicion and hostility; every facility
was afforded, every assistance offered, and every
request granted. Lord Elgin availed himself amply
of this favourable alteration in the state of affairs, and
extending his views with the increasing prospect of
accomplishing them, obtained permission, not merely
to visit the Acropolis without interruption, in order to
make drawings, but also to cast moulds, to erect