The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-21

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shields. Therefore the Thorwaldsen group
ing OF the middle figures must be abandoned
and with IL his conception OF the compost
ton as a whole would have 70 20, even
without further evidence, which there is.
In the ground In front OF the western end
OF the temple FurtwAngler found numerous
fragments which clearly belonged TO the
statues OF this pediment. Among them
was part OF a right hand grasping a stone,
to which a bit OF the plinth was attached,
showing that the stone lay on the ground
HIS argument is that this hand must have
Belongs to a fallen figure. which is reason
able in view Of the fact hat there is no in
dicatiou Of a STOPPING figure in the group.
But the and does not belong TO either Of
the three fallen figures in Munich, hence
there must have been a fourth one II
there was a fourth, the old arrang cement,
with a fallen figure in the middle and one
at either end, ia no longer possible. as there
must have been two in each half Of the
pediment. This is the keynote Of the
restoration he now proposes, by which he
divides the composition into two groups,
each Of warriors fighting over or about a
fallen cOmrade. The action Of both groups
is directed away from the middle. not
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tons Of the striding figures at either side OF
Athena Is reversed, n they now start
away from her in opposite directions. By
this arrangement the combatants fight
more nearly hand to hand, instead OF at
long ange, the composition becomes
proportionately more spirited and the
design. as such, more compact, with a
better distribution Of lines and masses.
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duces is one to which the Greek artists Of the
period were peculiarly sensitive, as we can
zee from the vase pictures. 1t is not,
however, upon aesthetic grounds that Furt-
wangler has based his restoration, but
upon his Interpretation OF the material
evidence, making it as far as possible a
matter OF fact. 1t would take too much
space to follow his argument in detail, but
| have shown something OF the method
by which he has worked it out. and so far
az this pediment is concerned 1t seems to
me to have in all essentials almost the force
Of a demonstration. Doubtless there will
be difference Of opinion in regard to details
which had to be left to conjecture, but these
will hardly affect the composition as a
whole or the general disposition of its
elements. 1t is, by the way, ar especial
satisfaction to see due attention at last paid
TO the evidence OF the @weathering" in the
arrangement OF these figures. 1t is well
known that all Of them are more corro1ed
IN one side than on the other. and that this
corrosion was due to exposure to the weather
for a long period-hence that the corroded
side was that which faced outward 1t is
also notorious that T~horwaldsen paid no
attention to these indications in his ~restora-
tons. F~urtwangler is by no means the first
TO appreciate their significance, but this is
probably the first lime that a complete
restoration has beer attempted with the
weathering as an essential criterion in the
placing OF every figure, and it has furnished
him with a strong argument for his arrange
ment.
With regard to the eastern pediment,
the material is much less abundant, and
the evidence for a restoration correspond
ingly less conclusive. Thorwaldsen was
able to put together but five figures put
Of a number which Furtwangler estimates
at eleven, but which might equally we'll
nave been thirteen, as in the western pedi-
ment, for anything he shows to the con-
trary. The blocks Of the conice con-
tanning the plinth holes are OF little help
in determining the arrangement OF the
figures, because they are quite fragmentary
and capable OF a variety Of permutations.
What survives Of the figures shows that
the composition was similar in character
TO thai Of the western pediment, but it
also shows that the two were by no means
identical. There were warriors fighting,
and there WIS an Athena, the head Of which
is among the fragments in Munich. She
may rave stood in the middle OF the pedi-
ment. but it is not certain that she did,
and there is some reason for thinking That
she did not, rs we shall see. There are
also among the fragments, partly in Munich
and partly Of recent discovery, the feet
ard the bottom Of the skirt OF a female
figure in a striding attitude. These may
have belonged to the Athena, and we should
probably never lave doubted that they
did but for the discovery in the recent
excavations OF a similar fragment Of an
other female figure in the same pose, the
discussion Of which ! reserve for the mo-
ment, citing il here only to show how
cautiously We should proceed in drawing
conclusions about the arrangement Of
figures in this pediment. Much must in
evitably be left to conjecture, and with
conjectures F~urtwangler is ever ready and
ever ingenious; but il il when he is
in the region Of pure conjecture that ne
has to be watched most closely for the
differentiation Of fact from guesswork.
Certain Of bis guesses regarding this group
are extremely clever and we'll supported.
Others appear less so. Starting with the
warrior that Thorwaldsen restored in such
a ridiculous manner as lying on his back
and about TO collapse into his shield. he
recognizes in this not a fallen, but a falling
figure, which, from the direction in which
il is turned, must ave belonged in the
right half Of the pediment. He found the
legs Of a similar figure which belonged in
the other half; hence he supposes the lead
ing motive Of each half to have been a scene
not uncomm in Attic vases Of the same
and earlier periods --that is, a combat be-
tween two warriors. one OF whom sinks back
ward, fainting or dying from his enemy's
blow. SO far, 40 good, and we may readily
admit the probability that such scenes were
represented here; but it is in the manner in
which he has worked out the details Of the
composition that il is difficult to find the
"zwingende Nothwendigkeit' which he