The five great monarchies of the ancient eastern world; or, The history, geography, and antiquites of Chaldaea, Assyria, Babylon, Media, and Persia . No. II. Lion about to spring, from the North Palace, Koyunjik. to his fall, his limbs failing him, and his eyes beginningto close. The more slightly-stricken king of beasts in the second (p. 444), urgedto fury by the smart ofhis wound, rushes atthe chariot whence theshaft was sped, and inhis mad agony springsupon a wheel, clutchesit with his two fore-paws, and franticallygrinds it between histeeth. Assyrian art,so far as it is as yetknown, has no
The five great monarchies of the ancient eastern world; or, The history, geography, and antiquites of Chaldaea, Assyria, Babylon, Media, and Persia . No. II. Lion about to spring, from the North Palace, Koyunjik. to his fall, his limbs failing him, and his eyes beginningto close. The more slightly-stricken king of beasts in the second (p. 444), urgedto fury by the smart ofhis wound, rushes atthe chariot whence theshaft was sped, and inhis mad agony springsupon a wheel, clutchesit with his two fore-paws, and franticallygrinds it between histeeth. Assyrian art,so far as it is as yetknown, has no finerspecimen of animaldrawing than thishead, which may chal-lenge comparison withanything of the kindthat either classic ormodern art has pro-duced. As a specimen atonce of animal vigourand of the delicacyand finish of the work-manship in the human. Chap. VI. SPIRIT OF THE ANIMAL FORMS. 44^ forms of the time, a bas-relief of the king receivingthe spring of a Hon, and shooting an arrow into hismouth, while a second lion advances at a rapid pace alittle behind the first, may be adduced (see page 445).The boldness of the composition, which represents thefirst lion actually in mid-air, is remarkable ; the draw-ing of the brutes fore-paws, expanded to seize hisintended prey, is life-like and very spirited, while thehead is massive and full of vigour. There is something-
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