THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 3 



purchased by the Parliament, for the sum of 

 £35,600., and deposited in the British Museum. 

 These rehcs of Grecian art are reckoned among the 

 finest productions of human genius, and the exquisite 

 taste and masterly execution displayed by the artist 

 have called forth the warmest expressions of delight 

 and admiration from the most eminent sculptors and 

 painters. 



Mr. West, formerly president of the Royal Aca- 

 demy, says — " Had I been blessed with seeing and 

 studying these emanations of genius at an earlier 

 period of life, the sentiment of their preeminence 

 would have animated all my exertions ; and more 

 character, more life, and expression would have 

 pervaded my humble attempts in historical painting." 

 And Canova, the most distinguished of modern 

 sculptors, bears the following testimony to the 

 superior excellence of these productions : — '^ I think 

 that I can never see them often enough, and although 

 my stay in this great capital must be extremely short, 

 I dedicate every moment that I can spare to the 

 contemplation of these celebrated remains of ancient 

 art. I admire in them the truth of Nature, united 

 to the choice of the finest forms. Every thing here 

 breathes life, with a veracity — w^ith an exquisite 

 knowledge of art, without the least ostentation or 

 parade of it, which is concealed by consummate and 

 masterly skill." 



There are also in the Athenaeum casts of the 

 Apollo Belvidere, and the Antinous. A bust of 

 Minerva is likewise placed above the Lecturer's 

 chair. On the walls are plaster facsimiles of the 

 sculptures in the Metopes of the Parthenon, repre- 

 senting the conflict between the Centaurs and Lapi- 

 thae, and the Panathenaic procession, which was 

 celebrated at Athens every fifth year, in honor of 

 Minerva. The Metopes and the Procession are casts 

 from the famous Elgin collection, and were presented 

 to the Institution in the most gracious and munificent 

 manner, by His Majesty George the Fourth. The 



