DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15099#0060
42
of his antagonist; his right hand has been broken off, but was
probably drawn back, rather with a view to stab than to strike;
his defence is probably successful, for the other Greek, though he
is for the moment in an attitude similar, but reversed, seems,
from the direction in which his chlamys is floating, about to
betake himself to flight. No drapery interposes, upon any of
these figures, to interrupt the full display of every part of the
human figure, and the firm vigorous tension of the muscles of
the rival combatants with all their life, strength, and activity,
is beautifully contrasted with the relaxed and feeble quiescence
of the wounded warrior at their feet. The attitudes of these two
figures, as before observed, are the same, though they are placed
in opposite directions; the attempt to make them actually balance
each other is too artificial.
The next group consists also of three figures, and the inci-
dent is very similar to that represented in the one just described.
One warrior is lying dead upon the ground, and the utter want
of animation, the entire lifelessness of the body, is admirably
expressed. Over him are two others engaged in a severe con-
test, and their attitudes are exact counterparts one of the other;
one presenting a front, the other a back. Each has had his left
leg bent, and advanced across the body of the fallen warrior ;
the right leg placed well back, straight and firm, and the right
arm actively engaged in striking. In each the body is stretching
forward, and the shield advanced for protection. Neither has any
drapery ; one has the head covered with a helmet decorated with
a flowing crest, the other appears to wear a cap of flexible mate-
rials, and not fitting very closely to the head. The muscular action
is well and forcibly expressed, and the artist, in giving both a front
and back view, has afforded himself an opportunity of displaying
his knowledge of the anatomy and muscular arrangement of every
part of the human frame.
The next group consists of two figures, one of whom has over-
of his antagonist; his right hand has been broken off, but was
probably drawn back, rather with a view to stab than to strike;
his defence is probably successful, for the other Greek, though he
is for the moment in an attitude similar, but reversed, seems,
from the direction in which his chlamys is floating, about to
betake himself to flight. No drapery interposes, upon any of
these figures, to interrupt the full display of every part of the
human figure, and the firm vigorous tension of the muscles of
the rival combatants with all their life, strength, and activity,
is beautifully contrasted with the relaxed and feeble quiescence
of the wounded warrior at their feet. The attitudes of these two
figures, as before observed, are the same, though they are placed
in opposite directions; the attempt to make them actually balance
each other is too artificial.
The next group consists also of three figures, and the inci-
dent is very similar to that represented in the one just described.
One warrior is lying dead upon the ground, and the utter want
of animation, the entire lifelessness of the body, is admirably
expressed. Over him are two others engaged in a severe con-
test, and their attitudes are exact counterparts one of the other;
one presenting a front, the other a back. Each has had his left
leg bent, and advanced across the body of the fallen warrior ;
the right leg placed well back, straight and firm, and the right
arm actively engaged in striking. In each the body is stretching
forward, and the shield advanced for protection. Neither has any
drapery ; one has the head covered with a helmet decorated with
a flowing crest, the other appears to wear a cap of flexible mate-
rials, and not fitting very closely to the head. The muscular action
is well and forcibly expressed, and the artist, in giving both a front
and back view, has afforded himself an opportunity of displaying
his knowledge of the anatomy and muscular arrangement of every
part of the human frame.
The next group consists of two figures, one of whom has over-