John Henning

South frieze - Horsemen

South frieze - Horsemen by John Henning

Artwork Detail

These plaster friezes were moulded after the originals following their arrival in Britain with the Elgin Marbles in 1806. The Parthenon Frieze shows in marble relief horsemen, chariot groups, citizens, tribute bearers, and the women of Athens. Accompanied by sacrificial sheep and cattle, the procession culminates on the East face with the offering of a new robe, the Peplos, to the statue of the Goddess Athene (Pallas Athena). The damaged East Frieze (reproduced here in a completed form by Henning) depicts tribute-bearing mortals being met by groups of Heroes and Gods, while a small group perform a ritual with the Peplos. The larger scale of the figures in the central portion of the frieze indicates the difference between the deities and the mortals. (Venus Rising, 2005)

Title
South frieze - Horsemen
Artist/creator
John Henning
Production date
Unknown
Medium
plaster
Dimensions
61 x 239 x 11 mm
Credit line
Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Accession no
MU/426/25
Copyright
No known copyright restrictions
Department
International Art
Display status
Not on display

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