Perry, Walter Copland: Greek and Roman sculpture: a popular introduction to the history of Greek and Roman sculpture (London, 1882)

ANALYSIS OF THE NIOBE GROUP.

in the Vatican (Museo Chiaramonti). It is unfortunately without
a head, but the treatment both of form and drapery is so masterly
that it is chiefly owing to the nature of the ground—which is not
uneven and rocky, as in the case of the other statues—that it cannot
be regarded as the original work of the great Greek master.

Next to this incomparable daughter comes, in the Florentine
group, the eldest son, whose left arm, and half the lower right arm
with the drapery about it, have been restored, so as to efface the traces
of the impact of another figure. It is plausibly conjectured that in its
complete state it was an exact duplicate of the well-known group in
the Vatican (fig. 182), which Canova first pointed out as a member of
the Niobe composition. The Vatican work represents a Young Girl
with a wound in her left breast, leaning against Iter brother, who has
stopped in his flight to assist her, and is supporting her fainting and
collapsing frame. Laying one hand affectionately on her shoulder, he
raises his garment with the other, as if to protect himself and her.
This is one of those touching examples of love and pity in conflict
with mere selfish fear, which so greatly enhance the variety and interest
of this noble composition.

Next to this group comes another son (fig. 183), whose raised left
foot rests on a rock, as if he were mounting a height. He looks
behind him towards the quarter from which the arrows fly, and at the
same time raises his garment with his left hand, as if apprehensive of
attack from the other side also.

The next place is properly occupied by a beautiful figure, formerly
called ' Narcissus', which Thorwaldsen first recognised as a Niobid
(fig. 184). Me is wounded and has fallen on his knees, and is trying
with his left hand to draw the deadly weapon from his back, while he
throws up his right arm in an agony of pain.

In all probability the last figure on this side was a Daughter
stretched at full length upon the ground, in responsion to the dying son
at the other extremity of the group.

Passing to Niobe's left hand, we are obliged to leave the place
nearest to her blank,1 as we know of no figure or group which we could

1 See miniature skeuh of group, fig. 177, » p. 414.