Page:Greek Buildings Represented by Fragments in the British Museum (1908).djvu/83

 THE TOMB OF MAUSOLUS. 67 of the Parthenon, were of metal " ; but there was much more. For example, I find by examining the positions of many drilled holes that the warrior on slab 1007 had a bronze crest in his helmet; an Amazon on slab 1006 carried a sword strongly pinned to her hand ; another, mounted on horseback, held a bronze bridle; another, in 1013, thrust a spear into a man's side; another, in 1015, grasped a shaft of bronze, which was inserted into an axe-head which formed part of the marble relief; on 1016 was an Amazon riding spear in hand. The figures are all in most violent action falling into a series of Fig. 56. — Sketches of two wounded Amazons. diagonal lines, but the composition in its continuity and easy variety is very wonderful, and the execution is most masterly. The tense and slender figures have " the accent of bronze." It is an extraordinary chef-d'oeuvre, but it does not satisfy like the Parthenon frieze. One or two of the fallen Amazons are charming in design and feeling. (Figs. 55, 56.) " The whole frieze was coloured, the ground of the relief was ultramarine, the flesh a dun red, and the drapery and armour were picked out with colours." The ground of the chariot frieze was likewise blue, and the plain moulding below had a painted