The record-union., 1895-03-30
PROFESSOR MIhLRR's LECTURE.
he Explains the Sculptures on the
Partheuon.


Partheuon.
Professor Walter Miller gave his fourth
lecture under the auspices of the Kings
ley Art Club last night at the Pylhlan
Castle, his subject being 1.-The FAR
thenon." It was Observation-Disclosures by
views of that celebrated ruin, ana also OF
fragments of the statuary which have
been preserved by archeologists and In
various museums. ~
The lecture was a most interesting one,
and showed that the speaker had given
deep and earnest study to his theme, anu
4 was curious TO follow him in his rea-
soniug as to the construction OF the
groups on the pediments, and his theory
of what they were intended to represent,
and who the characters were. The lecture
related to Greek art as illustrated by
Pbidias and his contemporaries, the
illustration being the building which was
chosen as his subject.
The one place, he said, where the spirit
of Phidias is shown is in the work OF his
pupils. The Parthenon Is his master
piece, although it Is now Impossible 70
tell how much of it is his own handl-
work.
He showed, in addition to picture of
it, ground plan of it and its surround
ings, explaining where each portion o! IL
tended The treasure OF Athene lNll-
nerva) was kept in it, as we'll as the sacred
utensils. Begun in b. C. 454, 1t must nave
taken some time to complete 1t.
1t was dedicated for use B. C. 43S.
Simon had begun to make the temple
longer than it was when finished, but
Pericles and his pupils changed the plans
somewhat. The lecturer gave an interest
ing description of the structure and Its
ornalnentation, the wonderful columns
and the effect produced by them on the
eye, and the absence OF any heaYlness III
the effect
He showed views of the famous statue
of Athene and other statues that orna-
ment the structure, the friezes and other
beauties.
He also showed the pediment repre-
senting the contest of Athene and Posel-
don for the control of the land, and re-
lated the myth from which 1t sprang, and
said the pediment must have represented
the moment of the decision in favor OF
the former, as Victory is the driver OF
Athenes chariot. He showed views of
the mutilated figures on the pediment,
supposed to represent the different gods
who were present to witness the decision
of the quarrel between Minerva and
Neptune.
The other pediment, he said, evidently
represented the birth of Athene, spring
but the central figures are unfortunately
gone, so that it can only be conjectured
what they were and the precise moment
they represented.
He showed sculptures of various gods
aud goddesses, with the characteristics Of
form and dress that distinguished them,
and comparing them with the fragments
of statuary that remain, he argued as to
the identity of the figures represented by
the fragments, which are all that is left of
the originals.
He pointed out the strides made by the
artists in a short time in mastering the
difficulties of drapery as compared with
the efforts of q few years before. 1t was
impossible, he thought, to determine just
how much is the handiwork of Phdias,
but it is evident that several were en-
gagged on the work.
The audience was an appreciative one
and listened to the lecturer with close at
tention.