History of mediæval art . Fig. 70.—Sassanian Monument at Takht-i-Gero. 126 PERSIA UNDER THE Western models was in many ways quite as helpless and lackingin intelligence as had been the employment of Greek forms by theancient Persians. In other respects the style of Sassanian sculpture was basedupon that of the earlier inhabitants of their land, the Assyrians andPersians. This is apparent in the almost exclusive limitation of thesubjects to warlike and hunting scenes,—in the ceremonial parades,at times combined with mythical or allegorical figures,—and in thegreater ability displaye
History of mediæval art . Fig. 70.—Sassanian Monument at Takht-i-Gero. 126 PERSIA UNDER THE Western models was in many ways quite as helpless and lackingin intelligence as had been the employment of Greek forms by theancient Persians. In other respects the style of Sassanian sculpture was basedupon that of the earlier inhabitants of their land, the Assyrians andPersians. This is apparent in the almost exclusive limitation of thesubjects to warlike and hunting scenes,—in the ceremonial parades,at times combined with mythical or allegorical figures,—and in thegreater ability displayed in dealing with historical conceptions than. Fig. 71.—The Capture of the Emperor Valerian by Shahpur Relief at Nakhsh-i-Rustam. with individual conditions. From this peculiarity there resulted, inboth epochs, a certain dryness, like that of inventories, a monoto-nous design of the minor figures, and a tendency to crowded com-positions. The dependence upon the earlier art is also recogniza-ble in the liking for a fleshy fulness of the bodies, for the luxuriantcurled locks of hair and beard, and for rich apparel and lack of understanding in the rendering of the forms of thehuman body, noticeable in the ancient art of Persia, is even morepainfully felt in Sassanian sculpture. The draperies are puffed out PAINTING. 127 into thick cushions around the shapeless limbs, or flutter in many-folds, so as to represent the waving of silken stuffs blown by thewind. This wild play of the wind with locks of hair, with the endsof garments, ribbons, etc., is increased in the same degree as theforms and proportions of th
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