File:Travels and researches in Crete (1865) (14761427636).jpg

Identifier: travelsresearch01spra (find matches)
Title: Travels and researches in Crete
Year: 1865 (1860s)
Authors: Spratt, Thomas Abel Brimage, 1811-1888
Subjects:
Publisher: London J. van Voorst
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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tatue the Venus ofMilo, undoubtedly the finest of the many representa-tions of the goddess; but yet of the existence of thismasterpiece nothing was known until it was acci-dentally found; and this little isle was the last tobe suspected to be possessed of such a relic of ancientGreek art. The sculptor is consequently unknown,except from conjecture; but from its close proximityto Crete there is a possibility that, if it did not comefrom there, its design and style may have been derivedfrom the Cretan school. The Venus represented here is from Crete. It wasfound at Gnossus some few years ago, and came intomy possession soon after. It was discovered without the head, which was for-tunately found afterwards some 200 yards from it;and the figure, when found, was so encrusted with athick coating of carbonate of lime, as hard as themarble itself, that the merit of the little statuette wasnot fully seen. It is about 2 feet in height; but thetop of the head was sliced off obliquely on the back
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A V E K U Sp&te A CEETAN VENUS. 73 part, and evidently done subsequently to its finish, soas to make it fit into some niche or recess. By long,patient labour the incrustation was at length clearedoff, and the polished surface of the figure restored with-out injury, except where previously worn; and thenits great beauty, as a probable copy of some admiredwork of a great master, was made apparent. As a nude Venus of exquisite delicacy and taste,some might be induced to consider it to be a copy ofsome unknown work of Praxiteles, of which he wassaid to have made many besides the celebrated Venusof Cnidus, the exact design and position of the handsof which, it seems, is not known with certainty; butone of its characteristics was the high finish of theback of the figure, so that it was placed in the centreof an open temple that it might be viewed all round:and such is also the characteristic of this little sta-tuette ; the back is strikingly beautiful. There are apparently several bronz

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