DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5596#0097
THE IDEAL.
73
of the lip. So in the representation of Bacchanals,
however violent their attitudes, however wild their
gestures, they are always exhibited with faces free
from emotion. In the groups of the Laocoon,
" Opus omnibus, et picturae et statuaria? artis, preferendum ; "
and of Mobe and her daughters, were it not for the
action of the whole, and of the individual parts, we
should be at a loss to trace the indications of horror
in the comparatively placid countenances. We
should at most say that in the one were indications
of deep struggle, in the other of absorbing woe.
Of such statues as Mobe it may be said,—" Their
faces did rather beautify their sorrow, than their
sorrow cloud their faces." What can be more
touching, more beautiful, or more true than her
pleading look, her vain attempt to shelter and
protect her offspring, forgetful and regardless of
her own danger ! But though not expressed there,
lest it should detract from beauty,1 the artist did
not omit to indicate this feeling in other parts.
1 The head of Moses would never have been represented by
an ancient sculptor with two horns, like those of a satyr; the
" meekest of men," whose countenance shone with a divine glory,
have stamped upon his face a terrific scowl; or the " servant of
G-od" have worn a beard, the excessive length of which required
the constant use of one of his hands. {Numb. xii. 3, 6.)
They who take a different view of it point to Exod. xxxii.
19, 22.
L
73
of the lip. So in the representation of Bacchanals,
however violent their attitudes, however wild their
gestures, they are always exhibited with faces free
from emotion. In the groups of the Laocoon,
" Opus omnibus, et picturae et statuaria? artis, preferendum ; "
and of Mobe and her daughters, were it not for the
action of the whole, and of the individual parts, we
should be at a loss to trace the indications of horror
in the comparatively placid countenances. We
should at most say that in the one were indications
of deep struggle, in the other of absorbing woe.
Of such statues as Mobe it may be said,—" Their
faces did rather beautify their sorrow, than their
sorrow cloud their faces." What can be more
touching, more beautiful, or more true than her
pleading look, her vain attempt to shelter and
protect her offspring, forgetful and regardless of
her own danger ! But though not expressed there,
lest it should detract from beauty,1 the artist did
not omit to indicate this feeling in other parts.
1 The head of Moses would never have been represented by
an ancient sculptor with two horns, like those of a satyr; the
" meekest of men," whose countenance shone with a divine glory,
have stamped upon his face a terrific scowl; or the " servant of
G-od" have worn a beard, the excessive length of which required
the constant use of one of his hands. {Numb. xii. 3, 6.)
They who take a different view of it point to Exod. xxxii.
19, 22.
L