Memorandum on the subject of the Earl of Elgin's pursuits in Greece (London, 1811)

41

sally sanctioned : and all idea of restoring
.the marblesj has been deprecated. Mean»
while, the most distinguished painters and
sculptors have assiduously attended this
museum, and evinced the most enthu-
siastic admiration of the perfection, to
which these marbles now prove to them
that Phidias had brought the art of sculp-
ture, and which had hitherto only been
known through the medium of ancient
authors. They have attentively examined
them, and they have ascertained, that
they were executed with the most scru-
pulous anatomical truth, not only in the
human figure, but in the various animals
to be found in this collection. They have
been struck with the wonderful accuracy,
and, at the same time, the great effect of
the minutest detail ; and with the life, and
expression, so distinctly produced in every
variety of attitude and action. Those
more advanced in years, have testified the