DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15098#0127
97
PLATE XII.
[ Length 6 f. Old No. 35. New No. 30. The fragment with the
horses heads was originally No. 177-*]
This plate contains parts of the subjects of two slabs, neither of
which are noticed by Carrey, though they must have been in ex-
istence in his time, for Stuart has given plates of both, vol. ii. ch. i.
pi. xix. by which it appears that one at least of them was in a
much more perfect state than at present. The slab on which
are the chariot and hinder parts of the horses must have been
much in the same state as at present, though his plate gives it the
appearance of having been nearly perfect; he has restored the
back part of the chariot, and represented it as containing only
one person, the charioteer, that portion of the warrior's figure
which is visible in our plate having quite escaped his notice.
The other slab has been restored in outline from Stuart's plate,
omitting the portion of the preceding chariot and figures, which
were originally sculptured upon the same slab, but of which
no fragment now remains. The state of this slab, and the
damage it has suffered, form one of the many proofs which can
be adduced that the injuries sustained by the Parthenon were not
entirely the result of the calamitous explosion which occurred
during the Venetian siege ; but that the sculptures were exposed
to a continuous and progressive deterioration from wilful as well
as accidental violence, and that the removal to Europe afforded
the only probable means of rescuing them from entire destruction,
and making them available as a school of art.1
1 It has been asserted that these sculptures were purposely broken to pieces with
hammers, and precipitated to the ground without any precaution, merely to save the
expense of a more careful removal; and somewhat harsh language is used towards
PLATE XII.
[ Length 6 f. Old No. 35. New No. 30. The fragment with the
horses heads was originally No. 177-*]
This plate contains parts of the subjects of two slabs, neither of
which are noticed by Carrey, though they must have been in ex-
istence in his time, for Stuart has given plates of both, vol. ii. ch. i.
pi. xix. by which it appears that one at least of them was in a
much more perfect state than at present. The slab on which
are the chariot and hinder parts of the horses must have been
much in the same state as at present, though his plate gives it the
appearance of having been nearly perfect; he has restored the
back part of the chariot, and represented it as containing only
one person, the charioteer, that portion of the warrior's figure
which is visible in our plate having quite escaped his notice.
The other slab has been restored in outline from Stuart's plate,
omitting the portion of the preceding chariot and figures, which
were originally sculptured upon the same slab, but of which
no fragment now remains. The state of this slab, and the
damage it has suffered, form one of the many proofs which can
be adduced that the injuries sustained by the Parthenon were not
entirely the result of the calamitous explosion which occurred
during the Venetian siege ; but that the sculptures were exposed
to a continuous and progressive deterioration from wilful as well
as accidental violence, and that the removal to Europe afforded
the only probable means of rescuing them from entire destruction,
and making them available as a school of art.1
1 It has been asserted that these sculptures were purposely broken to pieces with
hammers, and precipitated to the ground without any precaution, merely to save the
expense of a more careful removal; and somewhat harsh language is used towards