CONTENTS. In the title-page are Greek coins of Athens and Crotona. Plate I.-XII. XIII.-XIX. Statues from the Eastern Pediment of the Parthenon. XX. The Pediments as they appeared in 1676. XXII. XXIII. Plan and section of the Parthenon. XXIV. View of the Parthenon from the West. INTRODUCTION. THE relations of the British Government with the Ottoman Porte in 1801 afforded to the Earl of Elgin, at that time Embassador at Constantinople, an opportunity of obtaining accurate drawings and casts of the best monuments of Grecian Art, and ultimately of transporting many of the originals to this country. The Collection, thus formed by that Nobleman, was purchased by Parliament (1) for the use of the public in 1815, and is now deposited in the British Museum. 1 The report of the Select Committee, appointed by the House of Commons on this occasion, concludes with a recommendation too remarkable to be omitted here. "Your Committee cannot dismiss this interesting subject without submitting to the attentive reflection of the House how highly the cultivation of the fine arts has contributed to the reputation, character and dignity of every government by which they have been encouraged, and how intimately they are connected with the advancement of every thing valuable in science, literature and philosophy. In contemplating the importance and splendor to which so small a republic as Athens rose, by the genius and energy of her citizens exerted a The sculptures of the Parthenon, of which the far greater part of the Marbles consists, thus fortunately rescued from destruction, and preserved among our choicest national treasures, afford a standard of excellence in this class of the fine arts. It is an opinion entertained by some competent judges of high authority in matters of this kind, that none of the Collections of Europe contain any of those original monuments of sculpture which were held in general estimation by the ancients, with the exception only of the Laocoon and the Torso of Belvedere ; but here the connoisseur and the artist may be perfectly certain that they are contemplating a variety of those in the path of such studies, it is impossible to overlook how transient the memory and fame of extended empires, and of mighty conquerors are, in comparison of those who have rendered inconsiderable states eminent, and immortalized their own names by their pursuits. But if it be true as we learn from history and experience, that free governments afford a soil most suitable to the production of native talent, to the maturing of the powers of the human mind, and to the growth of every species of excellence by opening to merit the prospect of reward and distinction, no country can be better adapted than our own to afford an honorable asylum to those monuments of the school of Phidias, and of the administration of Pericles ; where secure from further injury and degradation, they may receive that admiration and homage to which they are entitled, and serve in return as models and examples to those who by knowing how to revere and appreciate them, may learn first to imitate, and ultimately to rival them." |
