§68. POSITIONS OP STATUES. 287 



be their general effect; but this did not make the Greek 

 sculptor less scrupulous in his work; and as a proof how 

 conscientiously the excellence of sculpture was studied, even 

 though it might afterwards be hidden from the eye, the un- 

 seen back of the Theseus was as highly finished as any other 

 part. Here, as in many other instances, they were statues 

 under the conditions of alto-relievo. 



However admirable may be the figures met with in a tym- 

 panum, a frieze, or a metope, these are not the situations 

 where sculpture can be seen to the greatest advantage, and 

 much of the exquisite beauty of the Panathenaic procession 

 on the cella of the Parthenon was concealed by its position. 

 But, on the other hand, figures forming alto- or basso-relievo 

 have not the same rights as statues; being subservient to 

 the decoration of the building. Again, a position suited to 

 figures in relief is not always tolerable for a statue ; the 

 treatment also of the two is frequently different ; for while 

 the same action may be given to figures in the former as in 

 a picture, a single statue has generally a more pleasing effect 

 in repose. The relative conditions of a statue and a bas- 

 relief, and of a picture on canvas (or panel) and a fresco, or 

 a mosaic, are in some degree analogous: — the one belonging 

 to a building, which the other does not. 



The position of a statue in a niche is not always disadvan- 

 tageous to it, and it is an ornament to the building within 

 which it stands ; but to do real justice to it as a work of art, 

 it should be so placed as to be seen on every side ; and it 

 often happens that in a niche it sacrifices some of its own 

 advantages to those of the building. Again no position should 

 require the beauty of a statue to be spoilt by gilding, though 

 it may find a plea in ancient custom. 



The employment of figures above life size requires great 

 judgment (as I have already shown, § 40, p. 241). The 

 Greeks felt the difficulty ; and Professor Cockerell thinks that, 



