DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15097#0081
65
METOPE XIII.
This Metope represents a Centaur carrying off a young female;
with his left arm he has clasped her round the waist, and, with the
assistance of his knee, raised her from the ground; his right hand
passing over his head grasps her right arm and forcibly retains
her in his hold.
Her left hand is engaged in the ineffectual attempt to remove the
arm which encircles her waist, and her legs seem intended to assist
in the struggle to escape; her drapery, which has been arranged
with some elegance, has fallen from her left shoulder, and partially
disclosed the beauties of her form ; the disposition of the folds
round the legs, and the unconfined portion which floats behind the
Centaur, indicate the rapidity with which he is bearing his victim
from the scene of action. This seems to be one of the most tame
and uninteresting of all the Metopes. There is a want of spirit
and vigour about the Centaur, his human body is smaller in pro-
portion than in the others of his race, there is less than the
usual exhibition of anatomical knowledge, less appearance of mus-
cular exertion than the occasion seems to demand, his long dull
tail (as it appears in Carrey's drawing) gives no indication of ex-
citement, and his action does not convey the idea of a rapidity
of motion correspondent to the arrangement of the female drapery.
The forms of the female, as disclosed by the partial removal and
transparency of the drapery, are very beautiful; but the disposition
of the lower limbs, though they may indicate the discomfort of her
situation, are not graceful or pleasing. The principal charm of
this group is in the drapery, which has been executed with great
skill, and disposed with much elegance and knowledge. The
general arrangement of the group is not altogether pleasing, but
K
METOPE XIII.
This Metope represents a Centaur carrying off a young female;
with his left arm he has clasped her round the waist, and, with the
assistance of his knee, raised her from the ground; his right hand
passing over his head grasps her right arm and forcibly retains
her in his hold.
Her left hand is engaged in the ineffectual attempt to remove the
arm which encircles her waist, and her legs seem intended to assist
in the struggle to escape; her drapery, which has been arranged
with some elegance, has fallen from her left shoulder, and partially
disclosed the beauties of her form ; the disposition of the folds
round the legs, and the unconfined portion which floats behind the
Centaur, indicate the rapidity with which he is bearing his victim
from the scene of action. This seems to be one of the most tame
and uninteresting of all the Metopes. There is a want of spirit
and vigour about the Centaur, his human body is smaller in pro-
portion than in the others of his race, there is less than the
usual exhibition of anatomical knowledge, less appearance of mus-
cular exertion than the occasion seems to demand, his long dull
tail (as it appears in Carrey's drawing) gives no indication of ex-
citement, and his action does not convey the idea of a rapidity
of motion correspondent to the arrangement of the female drapery.
The forms of the female, as disclosed by the partial removal and
transparency of the drapery, are very beautiful; but the disposition
of the lower limbs, though they may indicate the discomfort of her
situation, are not graceful or pleasing. The principal charm of
this group is in the drapery, which has been executed with great
skill, and disposed with much elegance and knowledge. The
general arrangement of the group is not altogether pleasing, but
K