And Only to Deceive: Art & Antiquities
|
|
"That is a calyx-krater, so called because the shape of the handles brings to mind a flower’s calyx,” Mr. Murray told me. “It would have been used in antiquity as a vessel in which one would mix water with wine. I believe it was Lord Ashton’s favorite. He had a difficult time parting with it but felt strongly that it belonged where others could study it. It is a fine example of red-figure vase painting."
|
Monsieur Pontiero sniffed, packed up my drawing materials, and led me to the Louvre, where he set me to the task of sketching the first of ten paintings by Francisco Guardi showing Venice during a festival in the eighteenth century.
|
|
|
"You like this?” Mr. Attewater asked.
I nodded.“What do you think, Pontiero?”
“It is exquisite.”
“Does it contain a spark of brilliance?”
“Yes, it does,” Monsieur Pontiero answered quickly. “Don’t try to claim that it’s one of yours. No one would believe you.”
“I could reproduce it well, but it is not mine. Nonetheless, it is a copy, done by a Roman in the style of one done in bronze during the fourth century B.C. by a Greek called Leochares. Would you consider it a fake?”
|
"...It is one of the more famous pieces in the museum. It must have been nearly fifty years ago now that some...ah, intoxicated bloke leaned on the case and smashed the vase. As you see, the museum staff have done a capital job of repairing the thing, although, if I remember correctly, they weren’t able to make all the pieces fit.”
|
|
|
...Mrs. Dunleigh then asked Lord Palmer if we could see the Rosetta Stone, adding that it was the only thing she considered really worthwhile in the museum.
|
There were twenty-seven pieces in all, ranging from small cameos to larger vases and sculptures. The biggest, a marble statue depicting the god Pan, stood nearly as tall as my shoulder.
|
|
|
"What shall I call this, Emily?” Ivy asked. “Perhaps ‘Bronze Statue of Man Forgetting Pants’?” She giggled.
“Really, Ivy! I’m shocked,” I said, laughing with her. “He’s doing the best he can with his cape. He has a rather fine figure, doesn’t he? Curly hair like the great Alexander.”
|
...Inside was an ancient bronze coin bearing a portrait of Alexander the Great.
“Where on earth did you get this? It’s fascinating,” I said, looking at it closely.
“Some dusty old shop in Bloomsbury. I thought you might like it and knew my father would approve.”
“It’s lovely, Andrew. I shall treasure it.”
|
|
|
...Now he took me to the room that held the Elgin Marbles. “Here.” He motioned to an object labeled as Slab IV of the North Frieze of the Parthenon. “Look closely. Is anything familiar?”
“Should the other piece be in this room, too? Is it from the Parthenon? It almost looks as if it belongs with this section,” I said.
“You are close to the truth. If you have finished with the museum today, I should very much like to tell you something about these two pieces once we step outside.”
|
...As soon as I reached the landing on which stood the Nike of Samothrace, one of the most beautiful statues in the museum, I saw Mr. Murray, the keeper from the British Museum, speaking excitedly to Colin.
“...removing a piece from its gallery is no small undertaking.” He stopped immediately when he spotted me and bowed politely after I nodded to him. Colin turned around, clearly surprised to see me. Never before had I seen him look unruffled in the slightest; now, however, I detected a trace of color on his cheeks and something less than his usual cool demeanor.
|
|
