DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.786#0119
chap, xxxvii.] THE CHIMERA.—THE ORATOR. 103
The Bronzes.
The ancient bronzes in the Uffizj are in a small cham-
ber—Greek, Etruscan, and Roman, mingled indiscrimi-
nately. The most remarkable objects, however, are
Etruscan, found within the Grand Duchy. In the centre
of the room stand several works of high celebrity. The
Chimera, found at Arezzo in 1534, is the legitimate com-
pound, having the body of a lion, a goat's head springing
from its back, and a serpent for a tail—the latter, however,
is a modern restoration. The figure is full of expression.
The goat's head is already dying, and the rest of the crea-
ture is writhing in agony from two wounds it has received
from the spear of Bellerophon. The style of art much
resembles that of the celebrated Wolf of the Capitol, but is
somewhat less archaic ; and its origin is determined by the
word " TnsrscyiL " in Etruscan characters on the fore leg.4
The Arringatore, or Orator, is a beautiful statue,
the size of life, of a senator or Lucumo, clad in tunic and
pallium, and high-laced sandals, and with one arm raised
in the attitude of haranguing. On the border of the
pallium is an Etruscan inscription, which in Roman letters
would run thus :—
"Aulesi. Metelis. Ve. Vesial. Clensi.
Cen. Phleres. Tece. Sansl. Tenine.
tuthines. chisvlics "—
showing this to be the statue of Aulus Metellus, son of
Velius, by a lady of the family of Vesius. Notwithstand-
ing this proof of its origin, the monument is of no early
date, but probably of the period of Roman domination,
before the native language had fallen into disuse.5 It was
found in 1573, near the shores of the Thrasymene.
4 See Lanzi, Saggio, II. p. 236 ; XLII. 2. Inghir. III. tav. XXI.
Micali, Ant. Pop. Ital. III. p. 61, tav. 5 Lanzi (Sagg. II. p. 547) regards
The Bronzes.
The ancient bronzes in the Uffizj are in a small cham-
ber—Greek, Etruscan, and Roman, mingled indiscrimi-
nately. The most remarkable objects, however, are
Etruscan, found within the Grand Duchy. In the centre
of the room stand several works of high celebrity. The
Chimera, found at Arezzo in 1534, is the legitimate com-
pound, having the body of a lion, a goat's head springing
from its back, and a serpent for a tail—the latter, however,
is a modern restoration. The figure is full of expression.
The goat's head is already dying, and the rest of the crea-
ture is writhing in agony from two wounds it has received
from the spear of Bellerophon. The style of art much
resembles that of the celebrated Wolf of the Capitol, but is
somewhat less archaic ; and its origin is determined by the
word " TnsrscyiL " in Etruscan characters on the fore leg.4
The Arringatore, or Orator, is a beautiful statue,
the size of life, of a senator or Lucumo, clad in tunic and
pallium, and high-laced sandals, and with one arm raised
in the attitude of haranguing. On the border of the
pallium is an Etruscan inscription, which in Roman letters
would run thus :—
"Aulesi. Metelis. Ve. Vesial. Clensi.
Cen. Phleres. Tece. Sansl. Tenine.
tuthines. chisvlics "—
showing this to be the statue of Aulus Metellus, son of
Velius, by a lady of the family of Vesius. Notwithstand-
ing this proof of its origin, the monument is of no early
date, but probably of the period of Roman domination,
before the native language had fallen into disuse.5 It was
found in 1573, near the shores of the Thrasymene.
4 See Lanzi, Saggio, II. p. 236 ; XLII. 2. Inghir. III. tav. XXI.
Micali, Ant. Pop. Ital. III. p. 61, tav. 5 Lanzi (Sagg. II. p. 547) regards