Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - Gregory Art Collection Catalog (Gregory) [PAGE 9]

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rock, is modern. This is one of the best restorations known, and WPB executed by Agostino Penna in 1812. Polyhymnia v. as the Inventress of the lyre and of rhetoric. MVKON, a Greek sculptor, born in Boeotia about 480 B. C. He was remarkable for his versatility, and besides representing the human form in its most difficult attitudes, he modeled animals with great success. His master-pieces are the "Discobolus" and his "Cow." The originals of these were both in bronze, as were the greater part of his works. T.V. The IHscobolUH. — There are three known copies extant of the Disc Thrower, the two best being in the Vatican at Koine, and in the Brilish Museum. This is, perhaps, the most celebrated of the works of Myron, who is said to have introduced a greater variety into his art than any of his predecessors. " T h e statue is full of action even to exaggeration, and the style of execution associate it with the known date of its author. * * There is a peculiar expression, very true to nature, given in the dragging of the left leg, or rather foot, of which the toes are bent, showing their under side."— R. W. "One sees the perfection of the system of corporeal education in the young athlete .vho is pitching the discus, in the curve of the body bending over, and in the disposition of the limbs extended or contracted so as to concentrate the greatest possible force at one point." — T. Quintilian gives an elaborate description of the statue, speaking of its distortion and over-elaboration. X. *tpot lino di .llcdlci.—The original of the Little Apollo, from which this cast is taken, stands in the Tribune of the Uffl/.i Gallery at Florence. It was found in the Villa Medici, at Borne. " I t is probable that it was executed in the time of Alexander's successors, and therefore in the later periods of Greek art, when artists began to aim at a general pleasing effect, rather than to produce the exact shape and perfect tinish of each particular part. Hence the idea of the head of this statue is very beautiful, but we cannot follow closely the drawing of the forms into its details. * * The Mow and soft undulation of the outlines is wonderful. The leaning attitude, the position of one hand upon the head, as well as the supporting of the other, denotes repose; but the spirit of the Godlike youth is in action ; he seems to be listening to the song of the Muses. The hands, nose and that'part of the hair which is gathered into a net on the crown of the head are modern. * The legs, near the ankle joint, appear too much developed, but the figure was broken precisely in this place and probably has been retouched."— W. ]'<>/. II, Ed. notes. J O H N GIBSON, an English sculptor, born in North Wales in 1791. He was, at different periods, a pupil both of Canova and Thorwalsden. His works are principally portrait statues and ideal pieces founded on classic models. Gibson was the first of modern sculptors who dared introduce color iuto his works. XI. Gibson's Venus.—This is one of the best known of this artist's works, and was made for 8t. George's hall, In Liverpool. All of his ideal figures exhibit gracefulness of form and expression, and an almost unrivaled delicacy of execution. This statue, which was exhibited in 1854 in a room prepared fot the special purpose, carries the innovation of color to its farthest extent. The original is colored a flesh tint, and the eyes, hair, and parts of the drapery counterfeit the appearance of life as nearly as possible. This practice has attracted much adverse criticism from artists and amateurs. XII. fenus de Jfledicis.—'The original stands in the Tribune of the Uftizi Gallery, iu Florence. It was found in the sixteenth century, in the Villa of Hadrian, near Tivoli, and was brought to Florence in 1680, under Cosmo I I I . The Greek inscription designates Cleomenes, son of Apollodorus, as its artist. Thus it belongs to the Graco-Roman period of art, and was executed in the same epoch to which the Apollo Belvidere belongs, the epoch of Caesar and Augustus. When found, this Venus was broken in thirteen places ; at the shoulder, waist, thighs, knees, ankles, etc., and the arms were missing. The restorations were clever, hut leave a little awkward affectation. The Venus de Medicis is counted the model of feminine beauty. Taine says of her, "she is not a goddess,like her sister of Milo, but a perfect mortal." "The shape of the Venus is uncommonly slender, and yet notwithstanding her head is very small, her height does not contain more than seven heads and a half (4.7G feet.)"— W. " H e r hair was originally gilded."—IP. V XIII. The Thorn Extractor.—This is a cast of the well known bronze figure in the Capitoline Museum, fit Borne, which is sometimes called the Shepherd Marius. From the exceeding gracefulness of this charming figure, resembling the pleasing works of Praxiteles, the Thorn Extractor has been ascribed to that artist or his school. Some authors say that it represents an athlete who, though wounded by a thorn during the race, nevertheless reaches his goal before extracting i t ; but the figure is too young to admit of that explanation. The middle ages invented the following story for the statue : A young peasant sent to spy upon the enemy returns with the news of their approach, and does not allow himself to stop and remove a thorn which becomes hurried in his foot, until he reaches his camp. The chief charm of this piece is its naive simplicity.

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XII". Cupid of Praxiteles.—This statue, often called the " Geniusof the Vatican," is supposed to be a copy of the famous Cupid of / Praxiteles, and is in the Vatican museum at Rome. It is one of the most celebrated works of this master, and is of exceeding grace and beauty. The Vatican copy was found in fragments near the palace of the Laterani at Rome, and was restored by an Italian artist. It is related that Praxiteles promised the beautiful P h r y n e one of his statues but would not tell her which he considered the most valuable, so she employed a little strategy, and sent a messenger to the artist to tell him that his studio was on fire. " O h ! " exclaimed he, " save my Faun and my Cupid." The figure of t h / g o d is here depicted in the tender transition state from boyhood to youth. XI". The Psyche of JtTaples.— This is often called the "Capuan Psyche," and the original is in the museum at Naples. It was found in the

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