- Museum number
- 2012,5001.456
- Description
-
View of the interior of the Temple of Apollo Epikourios at Bassae
Graphite
- Production date
- 1811-1815
- Dimensions
-
Height: 290 millimetres
-
Width: 405 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- Charles Robert Cockerell, 'The Temples of Jupiter Panhellenius at Aegina and of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae near Phigaleia in Arcadia', (London 1860), pl. X:
'This plate exhibits a view of the interior of the Temple, after the exavation and the fallen fragments from the superstructure had been removed from the cella, and the portions of the frieze temporarily placed there.
The combat of a Greek and a Centaur opposite was the first to reveal the series of remarkable sculptures which made the principal glory and reward of this fortunate labour.
During our first visit of 1811, one of the travellers observed amongst the fallen ruins of massive stones occupying the cella, a narrow and tortuous descent sufficiently large to admit his head and shoulders, without, however, room to turn round. Into this he descended head foremost, while his companions held him by the legs, and secured his return, which might not otherwise have been easy. At the bottom he discovered a fox's nest - happily not then occupied - and on removing this the Greek and the Centaur appeared in all their energy.
Portions of the three orders employed in the interior of the metopes, the antefixes and the ceiling; are displayed as also are the attached columns of the cella. The position of the single column, the base of which was still in its place, the sacrarium, the posticum, the southern portico, and the landscape to the south, are seen beyond. The faithful dog; the rifle, and the portfolio, announce the artists as at no great distance.'
Samuel Pepys Cockerell (ed.), 'Travels in Southern Europe and the Levant, 1810-1817. The Journal of C. R. Cockerell, R.A.' (1903, Reprinted 1999), p.74-78, 216-220.
Karl Haller von Hallerstein and Georges Roux, 'Le temple de Bassae: Relevés et dessins du temple d'Apollon à Bassae conservés à la Bibliothèque nationale et universitaire de Strasbourg' (1976)
I. Jenkins and D. Williams, 'The arrangement of the sculptured frieze from the Temple of Apollo at Bassae', in 'Sculpture from Arcadia and Laconia' (Oxford, Oxbow, 1993)
C. A. Hutton, 'A Collection of Sketches by C. R. Cockerell, R. A.', JHS 29 (1909), pp. 53-59.
David Watkin, 'The Life and Work of C. R. Cockerell', (London 1974).
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
In search of Classical Greece: travel drawings of Edward Dodwell and Simone Pomardi, 1805-1806 (7 February – 28 April 2013) Room 90
- Acquisition date
- 1930 (Probably. See Officers Reports 5th May 1930)
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 2012,5001.456