DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4266#0143
DESCRIPTION
OP
VARIOUS FRAGMENTS FROM ATHENS, DELPHI,
ANI>
ASIA MINOR.
PLATE I.
MARBLE STELE IN THE POSSESSION OF MR. GROPIUS, AT ATHENS.
Previously to the Greek revolution, Mr. Gropius, the Austrian consul at Athens, had a fine
collection of valuable antiquities, consisting of bronzes, terracottas, fictile vases, and marbles; many
of the latter decorated the court of his residence. Among these was to be observed an ornamented
fragment, which had the appearance of having once been the head of a sepulchral stele—a name
given to those mementos, placed by friends at the graves of the deceased, or in consecrated edifices,
to transmit to posterity the names of the departed. A fragment, resembling this in its composition
and application, is among the Elgin Collection of Marbles in the British Museum.
The present fragment is of large dimensions, and when entire was probably ten feet in height.
The foliage is bold and projecting; the lotus leaves beautifully disposed, and elegant in their con-
tour ; they rise out of two lower ranges of leaves, which are of inferior workmanship and design,
heavy in the general masses, but minute in the division of the parts. This minuteness of execution
is observable, generally, in the representation of the parsley leaf, in various edifices at Athens, and
may be more particularly noticed in the crowning ornament over the roof of the Choragic Monument
of Lysicrates. In order to give greater variety of chiar-oscuro and playfulness of outline, the ends of
the outer ranges of lotus leaves project three inches from the back ground, as indicated on the small
plan at the side. Two sections are given on the lines A B and C D, corresponding with the same
letters on the elevation, shewing the nature of the relief of the different parts : the turnover of a leaf,
lying near the fragment and similar in character to the lower ranges, affords authority for that part
in the restoration which is given of the whole head of the stele.
VOL. iv. p
OP
VARIOUS FRAGMENTS FROM ATHENS, DELPHI,
ANI>
ASIA MINOR.
PLATE I.
MARBLE STELE IN THE POSSESSION OF MR. GROPIUS, AT ATHENS.
Previously to the Greek revolution, Mr. Gropius, the Austrian consul at Athens, had a fine
collection of valuable antiquities, consisting of bronzes, terracottas, fictile vases, and marbles; many
of the latter decorated the court of his residence. Among these was to be observed an ornamented
fragment, which had the appearance of having once been the head of a sepulchral stele—a name
given to those mementos, placed by friends at the graves of the deceased, or in consecrated edifices,
to transmit to posterity the names of the departed. A fragment, resembling this in its composition
and application, is among the Elgin Collection of Marbles in the British Museum.
The present fragment is of large dimensions, and when entire was probably ten feet in height.
The foliage is bold and projecting; the lotus leaves beautifully disposed, and elegant in their con-
tour ; they rise out of two lower ranges of leaves, which are of inferior workmanship and design,
heavy in the general masses, but minute in the division of the parts. This minuteness of execution
is observable, generally, in the representation of the parsley leaf, in various edifices at Athens, and
may be more particularly noticed in the crowning ornament over the roof of the Choragic Monument
of Lysicrates. In order to give greater variety of chiar-oscuro and playfulness of outline, the ends of
the outer ranges of lotus leaves project three inches from the back ground, as indicated on the small
plan at the side. Two sections are given on the lines A B and C D, corresponding with the same
letters on the elevation, shewing the nature of the relief of the different parts : the turnover of a leaf,
lying near the fragment and similar in character to the lower ranges, affords authority for that part
in the restoration which is given of the whole head of the stele.
VOL. iv. p