DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.802#0036
ON THE EARL OF ELGIN'S COLLECTION OF MARBLES, &c. «g|
Luna, 4° die Martii, 1816.
HENRY BANKES, Esq. in the Chair.
Joseph Nollekens, Esq. R. A. called in, and Examined.
ARE you well acquainted with the Collection of Marbles brought to England by Lord Elgin?— Joseph NoMens,
lam. E'*-
What is your opinion of those Marbles as to the excellency of the work ?—They are very fine;
the finest things that ever came to this country.
In what class do you place them, as compared with the finest Marbles which you have seen
formerly in Italy?—I compare them to the finest of Italy.
Which of those of my Lord Elgin's do you hold in the highest estimation?—I hold the Theseus
and the Neptune two of the finest things; finer than any thing in this country.
In what class do you place the bas reliefs?—They are very fine, among the first class of bas relief
work.
Do you think that the bas reliefs of the Centaurs are in the first class of art ?—I do think so.
Do you think the bas relief of the frieze, representing the Procession, also in the first class of the
art?—In the first class of the art.
Do you conceive those two sets to be of or about the same date ?—I cannot determine upon that.
Have you ever looked at this Collection with a view to the value of it?—No, I have not.
Can you form any sort of estimate of the value of it?—I cannot say any thing about the value.
Do you think it very desirable, as a National object, that this Collection should become public
property?—Undoubtedly.
Can you form any judgment as to the date of those works, comparing them with other works that
you have seen in Italy?—I suppose they are about as old; but they may be older or later.
To which of the works you have seen in Italy do you think the Theseus bears the greatest resem-
blance?—I compare that to the Apollo Belvidere and Laocoon.
Do you think the Theseus of as fine sculpture as the Apollo ?—I do.
Do you think it is more or less of ideal beauty than the Apollo ? — I cannot say it is more than
the Apollo.
Is it as much ?—I think it is as much.
Do you think that the Theseus is a closer copy of fine nature than the Apollo?—No; I do not
say it is a finer copy of nature than the Apollo.
Is there not a distinction amongst artists, between a close imitation of nature and ideal beauty ?—
I look upon them as ideal beauty and closeness of study from nature.
You were asked just now if you could form any estimate of the value of this Collection; can you
put any value upon them comparatively with the Townley Marbles ? — I reckon them very much higher
than the Townley Marbles for beauty.
Suppose the Townley Marbles to be valued at ,£.20,000, what might you estimate these at?—
They are quite a different thing : I think the one is all completely finished and mended up, and these
are real fragments as they have been found, and it would cost a great deal of time and expense to put
them in order. .
For the use of artists, will they not answer every purpose in their present state ? — Yes, perfectly;
I would not have them touched.
Luna, 4° die Martii, 1816.
HENRY BANKES, Esq. in the Chair.
Joseph Nollekens, Esq. R. A. called in, and Examined.
ARE you well acquainted with the Collection of Marbles brought to England by Lord Elgin?— Joseph NoMens,
lam. E'*-
What is your opinion of those Marbles as to the excellency of the work ?—They are very fine;
the finest things that ever came to this country.
In what class do you place them, as compared with the finest Marbles which you have seen
formerly in Italy?—I compare them to the finest of Italy.
Which of those of my Lord Elgin's do you hold in the highest estimation?—I hold the Theseus
and the Neptune two of the finest things; finer than any thing in this country.
In what class do you place the bas reliefs?—They are very fine, among the first class of bas relief
work.
Do you think that the bas reliefs of the Centaurs are in the first class of art ?—I do think so.
Do you think the bas relief of the frieze, representing the Procession, also in the first class of the
art?—In the first class of the art.
Do you conceive those two sets to be of or about the same date ?—I cannot determine upon that.
Have you ever looked at this Collection with a view to the value of it?—No, I have not.
Can you form any sort of estimate of the value of it?—I cannot say any thing about the value.
Do you think it very desirable, as a National object, that this Collection should become public
property?—Undoubtedly.
Can you form any judgment as to the date of those works, comparing them with other works that
you have seen in Italy?—I suppose they are about as old; but they may be older or later.
To which of the works you have seen in Italy do you think the Theseus bears the greatest resem-
blance?—I compare that to the Apollo Belvidere and Laocoon.
Do you think the Theseus of as fine sculpture as the Apollo ?—I do.
Do you think it is more or less of ideal beauty than the Apollo ? — I cannot say it is more than
the Apollo.
Is it as much ?—I think it is as much.
Do you think that the Theseus is a closer copy of fine nature than the Apollo?—No; I do not
say it is a finer copy of nature than the Apollo.
Is there not a distinction amongst artists, between a close imitation of nature and ideal beauty ?—
I look upon them as ideal beauty and closeness of study from nature.
You were asked just now if you could form any estimate of the value of this Collection; can you
put any value upon them comparatively with the Townley Marbles ? — I reckon them very much higher
than the Townley Marbles for beauty.
Suppose the Townley Marbles to be valued at ,£.20,000, what might you estimate these at?—
They are quite a different thing : I think the one is all completely finished and mended up, and these
are real fragments as they have been found, and it would cost a great deal of time and expense to put
them in order. .
For the use of artists, will they not answer every purpose in their present state ? — Yes, perfectly;
I would not have them touched.