Smith, Arthur H.; British Museum <London> / Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities [Editor]: A Catalogue of the sculptures of the Parthenon, in the British Museum (London, 1900)

6

62 CATALOGUE OF SCCLPTUBE.

No. 311, both in composition and in style. The Lapith
has fallen on his left heel; his left arm rests on a
stone, which he grasps in his left hand. His right
hand, which is disarmed, presses feebly against the left
side of the Centaur; who with his left hand seizes
the hair of his antagonist, and treads him down with
his forelegs, drawing back his right arm to deal a
blow. The face of the Lapith expresses bodily pain,
as if he had just been half stunned by a blow on the
head. His bent knee does not yet touch the ground,
but the action of the Centaur deprives him of all chance
of recovering his erect position. A lion's skin floats in
the air at the back of the Centaur. A chlamys hangs
from the light arm of the Lapith, and passes behind his
back. The treatment of both the heads is a little austere,
but. the bodies are well modelled, and the composition is
finely conceived. There are on this metope some remains
of the bead and reel moulding on the upper margin.

Mus. Mai'hles, VII., pi. 12 ; Michaelis. pi. 4. xsx.; Stereoscopic, No. 93 j
Collignon, II., p. 13.

320. In this metope, the 31st of the original series, the
Centaur has the advantage. The Lapith has, with his
right hand, seized him by the hair; his left arm is drawn
back, and has been slightly bent at the elbow. The
Centaur, rearing up, grasps his antagonist by the throat,
twisting his forelegs round the Lapith's right leg, so as
to paralyse its action. The position of the Centaur is
obviously much the stronger, and the bent left knee of
the Lapith indicates that he is tottering. We do not
know what weapon he held in his hand. The Lapith
wears boots. The right forearm of the Centaur was a
separate piece, joined by a dowel. The composition in
this metope is very good. In the faces there is the same