Photo of the Day

Today's installment takes a more classical approach...

Updated!

May I present the figure of the River God from the Parthenon in Athens....presently located at the British Museum in London. To keep things light I won't go into Lord Elgin and the controversy of how the Parthenon marbles made there way to England, you can read that story here.

Detail of the River God facing toward the remnant of Hermes. The detail I shot reflects the surface imperfections that have resulted in another intriguing visual layer to these works...you have to love the romantic nature of a ruin.

The back of the River God... I remember in art school how the professor went on a tear bout the level of finish the statues have considering they were to be viewed from from a great distance and the backs were never to be seen once installed on the pediment. I must say it is amazing to see in person. There was no need to finish the back of this figure so perfectly.

Backs of the other west pediment figures.

The "wet drapery" clad figures of Hestia, Dione and Aphrodite. The fabric defies logic but to perfection...at once so rippled and massed and yet sheer and clingy.

Last but not least the haunting head of the the horse Selene.