his journey to England, had he seen nothing but the Elgin marbles."
PHIDIAS AND ALCAMENES.
The comprehensive character of the genius of
this preëminent sculptor, is well attested by his contest
with Alcamenes. It was intended to place a
statue of Minerva on a column of great height in
the city of Athens; and both these artists were employed
to produce images for the purpose, which
were to be chosen by the citizens. When the statues
were completed, the universal preference was
given to the work of Alcamenes, which appeared
elegantly finished, while that of Phidias appeared
rude and sketchy, with coarse and ill-proportioned
features. However, at the request of Phidias, the
statues were successively exhibited on the elevation
for which they were intended, when all the minute
beauties of his rival's work completely disappeared,
together with the seeming defects of his own; and
the latter, though previously despised, seemed perfect
in its proportions, and was surveyed with wonder
and delight.
INGRATITUDE OF THE ATHENIANS.
The enemies of Pericles, with the view of implicating
that statesman, accused Phidias of having
misapplied part of the gold entrusted to him for the
statue of Minerva, and desired that he should be
brought to trial. The sculptor, however, by the
