. International studio. own to theChinese, and when they havefound something good they arein no hurry for something differ-ent. The static character oftheir nature, to which they oweboth their strength and theirweakness, has permitted theirart to develop continuously andat times to attain to heights ofunique other sculptures a very rare andbeautiful piece, the little ramping dragon inbronze, here reproduced, deserves special men-tion. It is full of movement and yet very pure instyle. It was said recently in the Journal de Pekinthat in certain caverns in the Itchang district th
. International studio. own to theChinese, and when they havefound something good they arein no hurry for something differ-ent. The static character oftheir nature, to which they oweboth their strength and theirweakness, has permitted theirart to develop continuously andat times to attain to heights ofunique other sculptures a very rare andbeautiful piece, the little ramping dragon inbronze, here reproduced, deserves special men-tion. It is full of movement and yet very pure instyle. It was said recently in the Journal de Pekinthat in certain caverns in the Itchang district thebones of prehistoric serpents, twenty-five andthirty meters long, showing claws, and extremelysimilar to the Imperial dragon, had been found under beds of an-According to this,ways seemed tothe fruit of Orien-tal fancy was inreality a more orless convention-alized rendering ofa living two colorecterra - c o 11 a CHIMERA IN BRONZE1 AM, in NASTY (Collection oj M Homberg) c ient m u d .what had al-have been but. Jour twenty AUGUST 1922 mceRnAcionAL Jtf mounted dragons arc also verj rarespecimens of the same period. It isthought the} wnc used to decorate theexteriors of houses. At thai periodanimal representation had always aritual significance, no objet dart orbibelot having for purpose the mererecreation of the eyes, and thesedragons, like those in China placed onthe crests of houses, were intended toexorcize and to preserve against theevil spirits so numerous in the Taoistbelief. It may be supposed they werefixed into the wall at each side of theentranee-door at which they so noblymounted their guard. The art of enamelled terra-cottaprobably reached its highest degree ofperfection during the Tang period(620-905 A. D.). At this time horseswere, as is well known, rendered withunparalleled feeling and skill. Thelittle chimera here reproduced is avery rare and precious specimen ofbronze art under the Tangs. Among the numerous and beautifulporcelain animals shown at the M
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Keywords: ., bookcentury180, booksubjectart, booksubjectdecorationandornament
