DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.73713#0050
46
THE WORKS OF
equalize it with the original. I believe this a
a copy of the other, from the great resemblance;
and because it appears to me that it is a portrait
of Commodus. One may add also that neither
Fulvio 'Orsini,or Flaminio Vacca who describe
the discovery os the Farnesiano, do not men-
tion a word of the incription; in the mean
time the laid speaks of that of Pitti. One may
add also that the manner in which the lettersos
the inscription are engraven, is not certainly
that which they used in the belt time of the
Grecians.
But what shall we say of the most beautiful
ancient statues which have remained, as is that
osthe Pitian Apollo os Belvedere? Shall we sup-
pose it one of those works which have imortalized
their authors? If its beauty makes one believe
so, it is certain however that it is of the marble
of Carrara, or of Seravezza, and although one
would with' also to sustain, that some famous
Grecian had sculptured it in Italy, Pliny how-
ever attests that the said cave of Luni, or be it
os Carrara, was recently diseovered, and of course
it is probable that the statue was made in the
time of Nero, and placed at Neptune where it
was found; and perhaps its author was not of
the ability of the other artists employed by that
emperor in his edifice at Rome, where necesia-
rily they ought to have executed the most pre-
cious things.*
* It will be an error perhaps to believe that Apollo was found
in the house of Nero; because if it had been thus, Pliny would
have spoken of it, as he spoke of the Laocoon, and of other ex-
THE WORKS OF
equalize it with the original. I believe this a
a copy of the other, from the great resemblance;
and because it appears to me that it is a portrait
of Commodus. One may add also that neither
Fulvio 'Orsini,or Flaminio Vacca who describe
the discovery os the Farnesiano, do not men-
tion a word of the incription; in the mean
time the laid speaks of that of Pitti. One may
add also that the manner in which the lettersos
the inscription are engraven, is not certainly
that which they used in the belt time of the
Grecians.
But what shall we say of the most beautiful
ancient statues which have remained, as is that
osthe Pitian Apollo os Belvedere? Shall we sup-
pose it one of those works which have imortalized
their authors? If its beauty makes one believe
so, it is certain however that it is of the marble
of Carrara, or of Seravezza, and although one
would with' also to sustain, that some famous
Grecian had sculptured it in Italy, Pliny how-
ever attests that the said cave of Luni, or be it
os Carrara, was recently diseovered, and of course
it is probable that the statue was made in the
time of Nero, and placed at Neptune where it
was found; and perhaps its author was not of
the ability of the other artists employed by that
emperor in his edifice at Rome, where necesia-
rily they ought to have executed the most pre-
cious things.*
* It will be an error perhaps to believe that Apollo was found
in the house of Nero; because if it had been thus, Pliny would
have spoken of it, as he spoke of the Laocoon, and of other ex-