DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15097#0089
71
METOPE XV.
In the contest represented in this Metope, though the result is
not absolutely ascertained, there can be little doubt that the
Centaur must be triumphant. He has seized the Greek furiously
by the throat, which he is compressing with considerable violence;
he has with his fore legs forcibly raised the right leg of his adversary
from the ground, and, while he is himself planted firmly upon his
hind legs, his right arm is raised with vigour to aim a deadly blow.
The Greek has with his right hand seized the Centaur by the hair,
but as much for the purpose of sustaining himself as of assaulting his
adversary, for his powers are evidently much weakened; the pres-
sure of his right knee against the chest of the Centaur is neutralized
by the effect of the monster's hold upon his leg; his left leg is
bending beneath him, his abdomen is compressed, his eyeballs are
starting from the sockets, his breathing seems impeded, a total re-
laxation of exertion seems to have accrued from the violent grasp
of the Centaur upon his throat, and the feeble effort of his left hand,
however it may have been armed, holds out but little prospect of
his relieving himself from impending destruction. This Metope is
well designed, the group is well balanced, it fills up agreeably the
whole of the space allotted to it, and evinces a confidence of the
artist in the extent of his powers, for he has boldly declined all the
adventitious aid which he might have derived from the rich folds,
and perhaps the varied colours, of an ample drapery, and has relied
upon the arrangement and disposition of his entirely naked figures
for the production of that varied, but harmonious, outline and blen-
diture of parts, which are necessary to gratify the spectator, and
impress him with a high estimate of the talents of the artist. It is
also skilfully executed in the peculiar style of art of which it is a
METOPE XV.
In the contest represented in this Metope, though the result is
not absolutely ascertained, there can be little doubt that the
Centaur must be triumphant. He has seized the Greek furiously
by the throat, which he is compressing with considerable violence;
he has with his fore legs forcibly raised the right leg of his adversary
from the ground, and, while he is himself planted firmly upon his
hind legs, his right arm is raised with vigour to aim a deadly blow.
The Greek has with his right hand seized the Centaur by the hair,
but as much for the purpose of sustaining himself as of assaulting his
adversary, for his powers are evidently much weakened; the pres-
sure of his right knee against the chest of the Centaur is neutralized
by the effect of the monster's hold upon his leg; his left leg is
bending beneath him, his abdomen is compressed, his eyeballs are
starting from the sockets, his breathing seems impeded, a total re-
laxation of exertion seems to have accrued from the violent grasp
of the Centaur upon his throat, and the feeble effort of his left hand,
however it may have been armed, holds out but little prospect of
his relieving himself from impending destruction. This Metope is
well designed, the group is well balanced, it fills up agreeably the
whole of the space allotted to it, and evinces a confidence of the
artist in the extent of his powers, for he has boldly declined all the
adventitious aid which he might have derived from the rich folds,
and perhaps the varied colours, of an ample drapery, and has relied
upon the arrangement and disposition of his entirely naked figures
for the production of that varied, but harmonious, outline and blen-
diture of parts, which are necessary to gratify the spectator, and
impress him with a high estimate of the talents of the artist. It is
also skilfully executed in the peculiar style of art of which it is a