A catalogue of sculpture in the Department of ... - Warburg Institute

174 CATALOGUE OF SCULPTURE.325. chariot in the procession. This slab is shorter than anyof the others representing chariot groups. Part of the62. head of the apobates (No. 52) is supplied in plaster fromthe original fragment at Athens. A fragment of anapobates, which may well belong to the figure No. 52,has recently been fi^tted to the left of slab xxiv., thusproving that No. xxiv. is the first slab of the cavalry, andmaking it very probable that No. xxiii. is the last slabof the chariots. This fragment, incorrectly drawn, isassigned by Michaelis to slab xxviii. of the south side.54—109. From this point to the north-west angle of the frieze XXIV.-we have a continuous procession of Athenian cavalry. XLli.The horsemen advance in a loose throng, in which nodivision into ranks or troops, nor indeed any settled order,The groups, being very crowded, arecan be made out.carried on from slab to slab continuously, so that thevertical lines of the joints intersect the figures, while onthe western frieze, on the contrary, the groups, beingmore scattered, are always completed on single slabs.The general effect of a body of horse in rapid movementis admirably rendered in the composition of the northernfrieze, and is particularly fine in slabs xxx.-xlii., inwhich the effect has not been marred by mutilation.Though the entire composition is pervaded by the samegeneral motion, a wonderful fertility of invention isshown in the arrangement of the successive groups. Inthe one hundred and twenty-five mounted figuresin thiscavalcade we do not find one single monotonous repetition.Though the horses bound along with a fiery impatience,which seems at every moment ready to break loose fromallcontrol, these irregular movements never disturb theeven hand and well-assured seat of the riders.Thus, asthe cavalcade dashes along like a torrent, a rhythmicaleffect is produced by the contrast of the impetuous horsesand their calm, steadfast riders.