Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/220

 Idols. 177 coincides with the discoveries made by MM, Dtimmler and Bent, relating to the industry of the Cyclades, such as we find it exemplified in the furniture of the graves. This local industry, though much more elementary and less advanced than that of the Minyan and Achaean provinces of Thessaly, Bceotia, Argolis, and Laconia, has many points in common with it. Hence we are led to infer that the civilization of the nameless tribes of the Troad, Cyprus, the Sporades, and Cyclades preceded that of the continental Hellenes. It follows, therefore, that the first attempts to translate into a tangible form the dim notion which primitive men conceived of the Deity were made in the islands. Thanks to recent finds, we can lead back to the first gropings —Marble itlol. Two-fifths of Hctnal si of the hand of the native industry, whose awkward ways are some- times quite startling. To-day, owing to long heredity and the numerous prints and other artistic productions which surround a child from his cradle, his first attempts to reproduce form are less unskilful than those of an adult of that period. The form of apparently the oldest idols is rather suggested than imitated. We feel that the figures in question are not so much unskilful and untrustworthy copies of reality, as a sign meant to stir the soul within. Yet the meaning is so ill expressed, that but for the long series wherein we can follow the steady progress made by the artist in bringing out the type which he had dimly conceived, we should never recognize or identify it with the specimen which at last issues from his hand with no faltering gait. Thus it is VOL. n. N