DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1041#0150
History of the Society of "Dilettanti 131
the Acropolis. In one of these notes Spon hazarded
the opinion that two of the figures of the west
pediment resembled the Emperor Hadrian and the
Empress Sabina, and from this cursory note deduced
a theory that the sculptures, at least in the pedi-
ments, were a later addition to the temple. In
1687 came the bombardment of Athens by the
Venetians under Morosini and the partial destruc-
tion of the Parthenon. From this date onwards
the sculptures were exposed to constant injury from
the ravages of time and still more from the hand
of man, Venetians, Turks, and even Frenchmen
having their share in the work of spoliation and
destruction. Many portions of the sculptures noted
by Carrey had disappeared before 177 *j the year
of the visit to Athens of Stuart and Revett. The
appearance of the successive volumes of Stuart's
Athens revealed to the world the beauty and value
of the portions which remained, and the Society of
Dilettanti may fairly claim some credit for the part
which they had taken in assisting that revelation.
Meanwhile the work of decay and destruction at
Athens progressed slowly but steadily.
In 1796 Thomas Harrison, a Yorkshire architect Thomas
of eminence, was employed to build the house of Harris0?l-
Broom Hall in Fifeshire for Thomas Bruce, seventh
Earl of Elgin. Harrison had studied in Rome, and
was a proficient enthusiast in the classic style
which had been revived by the publications of
Stuart and Revett and the Society of Dilettanti.
When in 1799 t^ie Earl °^ Elgin was appointed
to the embassy at Constantinople, Harrison suggested
to him the possibility of obtaining casts and
drawings of the remains of ancient sculpture at
Athens for his new mansion of Broom Hall.
K %
the Acropolis. In one of these notes Spon hazarded
the opinion that two of the figures of the west
pediment resembled the Emperor Hadrian and the
Empress Sabina, and from this cursory note deduced
a theory that the sculptures, at least in the pedi-
ments, were a later addition to the temple. In
1687 came the bombardment of Athens by the
Venetians under Morosini and the partial destruc-
tion of the Parthenon. From this date onwards
the sculptures were exposed to constant injury from
the ravages of time and still more from the hand
of man, Venetians, Turks, and even Frenchmen
having their share in the work of spoliation and
destruction. Many portions of the sculptures noted
by Carrey had disappeared before 177 *j the year
of the visit to Athens of Stuart and Revett. The
appearance of the successive volumes of Stuart's
Athens revealed to the world the beauty and value
of the portions which remained, and the Society of
Dilettanti may fairly claim some credit for the part
which they had taken in assisting that revelation.
Meanwhile the work of decay and destruction at
Athens progressed slowly but steadily.
In 1796 Thomas Harrison, a Yorkshire architect Thomas
of eminence, was employed to build the house of Harris0?l-
Broom Hall in Fifeshire for Thomas Bruce, seventh
Earl of Elgin. Harrison had studied in Rome, and
was a proficient enthusiast in the classic style
which had been revived by the publications of
Stuart and Revett and the Society of Dilettanti.
When in 1799 t^ie Earl °^ Elgin was appointed
to the embassy at Constantinople, Harrison suggested
to him the possibility of obtaining casts and
drawings of the remains of ancient sculpture at
Athens for his new mansion of Broom Hall.
K %