Falkener, Edward: Daedalus or the causes and principles of the excellence of Greek sculpture (London, 1860)

CAUSES OF SUCCESS.

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the inhabitants of Cyzicus, for their Ajax or
Medea ? What the Rhodians for their Ialysus ?
What the Athenians for their marble Bacchus, their
picture of Paralus, or their bronze heifer by Myron ?
It would be tedious and superfluous (he concludes)
to dwell upon all the rarities, which attract
strangers throughout Asia and Greece." Cicero
also tells us that there was no example known of a
Grecian city's having alienated such treasures;
while Pliny says that the wealth of a whole town
was scarcely sufficient to buy a fine picture.
Respecting one of the above-named pieces we are
told, that being in danger of destruction at the
siege of Rhodes, should the city be set on fire, a
deputation of the inhabitants waited upon Demetrius
the son of Antigonus, who assured them, that he
would sooner burn the images of his ancestors,
than' destroy a work of such excellence as the
Ialysus of Protogenes. But it was not a few of
the leading citizens who directed the public taste,
the whole community was alike influenced by a love
of art. The Greeks, says Cicero, enthusiastically
admire statues, paintings, and all works of art.
The study of the fine arts was early imposed upon
their children by the Greeks, as we learn from
Aristotle, and they were thus enabled to appreciate
the works of art in after-life. In order to raise in
their minds the standard of pure beauty, the Greeks
instituted prizes for the most beautiful of men and

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