Lord Elgin & the Marbles

by William St. Clair

Based on a detailed study of both original records and recent discoveries, Lord Elgin and the Marbles is the authoritative historical account of the extraordinary circumstances in which the Elgin Marbles were acquired, of the tremendous impact which they made on modern appreciation of Greek art, and of the bitter reaction of Napoleon, Byron, and many others to their appropriation. In the concluding chapters of his book, St. Clair adds further fuel to the controversy by revealing for the first time some disturbing details about the treatment of the Marbles while in the British Museum's care, and of the British Museum's response to public concerns about this important cultural artefact.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, European History

434 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 1990

About the author

William St Clair, FBA, FRSL was a British historian, senior research fellow at the Institute of English Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London, and author.

Reviews

[Midori · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensible and easy-to-read study of the vicissitudes of the Parthenon sculpture. "Lord Elgin and the marbles" unfolds the life and the unscrupulous deeds of a thoroughly ignorant man who wanted to introduce the classical spirit to the industrial products of the 19th cent. England. At least so the looter claimed. Unable to do anything he so ambiciously conceived, his biggest achievent was to sell the marbles and receive his pay. Anyway, the first part of the study is a biography under a sympathetic eye of Lord Elgin who behaved no lordish at all, the second- and shorter- part focuses on the Duveen cleaning project of the sculptures in the 1930ies. "Yes, Elgin and the British Museum did no more damages to Parthenon than the Greek-speaking idiots who restored the Acropolis monuments and the rest of the world but now, we have to turn the page and restore the marbles to their natural- cultural environment?" is the didactic, reconciliatory epilogue of this book.

[Marlowe Glass · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly great book. Giving it 3 stars because of the subject matter.

[Kandra Bellanca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, thorough examination of the circumstances of Elgin and his marbles throughout history.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

read for Greece research