DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.55337#0059
DESCRIPTION OF PLATES
I
BUST OF THUCYDIDES. (Holkham Hall.)
[Bust antique except basis and inscription. Marble. Height
from lowest edge to crown o-6i, from chin to crown 0-30. Restored,
in marble, nose tip, and part of lappet of himation; in plaster, a small
part of left cheek and breast. The damage is insignificant, and even
the modern polishing of the surface has done very little to spoil the
artistic effect.]
Mr. C. W. James kindly informs me that the bust was acquired
for Holkham Hall in 1754. The shape of the bust itself is of Trajan’s
age, and thus this copy is dated. Moreover, the drilling of the locks,
which is not very deep, agrees with the technique of that age. The
animated movement of the head shows that the original must have
been a statue, and in that case a standing figure, to judge from the
fall of the himation over the left shoulder and breast.
Even one who comes prepared for this well-known portrait,
receives a shock of surprise at the sight of the original : so powerful
and defiant is the expression of the proudly erect head. The fine,
high forehead with the deep, receding temples, which, as it were,
prepare for the carefully-concealed baldness of the crown, has three
gently vibrating cross-wrinkles of imposing effect. Under them the
slightly curved perpendicular wrinkles form almost a right angle
with the similarly waving lines of the brows. The broad surfaces
under the extreme parts of the brows, in conjunction with the
uncommonly large caruncles of the eyes, and the heavy upper
eyelids make the expression severe and calm. But no words can
describe the animation of the temples and cheeks, where every little
detail makes its important contribution to the structure of this
character-portrait, or the mouth with the haughtily crisped upper
I
BUST OF THUCYDIDES. (Holkham Hall.)
[Bust antique except basis and inscription. Marble. Height
from lowest edge to crown o-6i, from chin to crown 0-30. Restored,
in marble, nose tip, and part of lappet of himation; in plaster, a small
part of left cheek and breast. The damage is insignificant, and even
the modern polishing of the surface has done very little to spoil the
artistic effect.]
Mr. C. W. James kindly informs me that the bust was acquired
for Holkham Hall in 1754. The shape of the bust itself is of Trajan’s
age, and thus this copy is dated. Moreover, the drilling of the locks,
which is not very deep, agrees with the technique of that age. The
animated movement of the head shows that the original must have
been a statue, and in that case a standing figure, to judge from the
fall of the himation over the left shoulder and breast.
Even one who comes prepared for this well-known portrait,
receives a shock of surprise at the sight of the original : so powerful
and defiant is the expression of the proudly erect head. The fine,
high forehead with the deep, receding temples, which, as it were,
prepare for the carefully-concealed baldness of the crown, has three
gently vibrating cross-wrinkles of imposing effect. Under them the
slightly curved perpendicular wrinkles form almost a right angle
with the similarly waving lines of the brows. The broad surfaces
under the extreme parts of the brows, in conjunction with the
uncommonly large caruncles of the eyes, and the heavy upper
eyelids make the expression severe and calm. But no words can
describe the animation of the temples and cheeks, where every little
detail makes its important contribution to the structure of this
character-portrait, or the mouth with the haughtily crisped upper