Wonders of sculpture (1873) (14780472361)

Identifier: wondersofsculptu00viarrich (find matches)
Title: Wonders of sculpture
Year: 1873 (1870s)
Authors: Viardot, Louis, 1800-1883
Subjects: Sculpture
Publisher: New York, Scribner, Armstrong, and Company
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN



Text Appearing Before Image:
tuary,to rival the nude Venus of Gnidus (Cnidus). Alibertine Venus, which, as restored, is crushing underfoot a human foetus, typifying the destructive effectof vice upon mankind. The Venus of Aries, foundin that town in 1651. This was another VenusVictrix, remarkable for the beauty of the head,decked with graceful ribbons. In restoring thearms, Girardon put a mirror in the left hand, insteadof the helmet of Mars or yEneas. The Venus ofTroas, an imitation of a celebrated .statue from thetemple of this Phrygian town : at her feet is apyxis, or jewel-case. Two Marine Venuses, one) ising from the waves at her birth, the other called) upl.x-a, or goddess of fortunate voyages, etc. If Venus represents physical beauty, Minerva isihc type of moral perfection. On this account, and too GUECIAS StULFTUllE. as protectress of Athens, she was as great a fa-vourite with the Greeks as the sea-goddess. Hetstatues are plentiful everywhere ; there are nine inthe Louvre, amongst which we will notice the
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. g.—Pallas of Velletri. (Museum of the Louvre, Paris.) Pallas of Velletri, semi-colossal, wearing a helmet,with a mitopon (closed visor), a lance in her hand,the a;gis on her breast, modestly confining the GRECIAN SCULPIUJIE. 107 tunic, and an ample pcplum falling to the feet.The severe and noble attitude of this fine statue,the fTowing folds of the long draperies, the calmand sweet expression of the majestic countenancein the martial head-dress, are as characteristic asher symbols of the goddess of armed peace, of thearts, of letters, and of wisdom. The Minerva withthe Necklace, another Pallas in armour, of the exaltedstyle peculiar to the age of Pheidias, supposed to bea copy in marble of the Athena in bronze by thegreat sculptor, also called tlie beautiful, becauseshe is adorned with the pearl necklace usuallyreserved for Venus. A Minerva Hellotis (whosehelmet is decked with myrtles), which is probably acopy of some old wooden idol, draped with heavystuffs, plaited in perpend