Plate 55. The Monument of Lysicrates: the Cupola

Plate 55 shows the elevation in half of the cupola, over the center of which, and with its lower part connected thereto, rests the beautiful finial. The upper surface of the cupola is, like a roof covering, worked with scale-like pointed leaves. The two gutters resulted from the overlapping connection of the cupola with the cornice. By a change in form of these was obviated an otherwise difficult complication, and at the same time the wave-like form of the upper cresting seems to blend with the marine subject represented by the reliefs in the frieze (The victory of Bacchus over the sea robbers).

At the foot of the finial, and spaced equally around the same, spring three consoles which are represented and described on Plate 56, and also shown on this plate. If we note on Plate 57 that the richly decorated upper part of the finial, has only a bearing surface of 11 inches in diameter where it rests on the lower portion connected to the cupola, and consider that its three arms extend exactly over the consoles below, it would seem probable that from these the projecting arms were once supported. For in this way the upper portion which supported the tripod could best be given the necessary stability. The restoration of these supports in proper relation to and in harmony with the incomparable fine architecture of the monument, is a difficult matter, the solution of which has been tried in different ways. It has been attempted with sphinxes and chimera; but the representations in comparison with the rest appear entirely too small in scale, as the height to be filled in is only 2 feet. A continuation of the ornament from the console would be without reason and cause an overloading of floral decoration. Many other methods can be thought of, but in most every case similar objections arise. Stuart, who first examined this monument thoroughly, and described it in his work, has completed these connecting links by means of dolphins. We find such animals well adapted for this as they relate to the story on the frieze where the dolphin already occurs many times. We cannot however entirely agree with the sickle form of the dolphin which can be seen in the tail vignette of the 4th chapter of his 1st book. We have retained the dolphins in our restoration, and have endeavored to form them in such a manner that in execution, they would at no place come too close to the leaves of the finial; on the whole they form a secure support for its arms. In this way it happens that the tail of each dolphin supports the arm at a place where even now it can be discerned where a piece has been broken off, while the head of the animal rests on the portion of the console directly thereunder, likewise restored by us. Such a restoration by dolphins would give a reason for the consoles and make the whole finial and cupola complete. It might also be mentioned that a hole in the cupola occurring at each console suggests that originally a metal dowel or rod was placed there for securely holding the missing support in place. In plan (Plate 56) is shown for this reason, on the restored part of the console, a notch for the rod which was directed against the head of the dolphin, and probably extended up through the body to the marble arm. From this we can suppose the dolphin to have been of bronze, and probably gilded.