Page:A History of Art in Chaldæa & Assyria Vol 2.djvu/178

ISO A History of Art in Chauxea and Assyria. struck by the truth of attitude and movement given by the Assyrian sculptor to horses both driven and mounted. Nowhere is this merit more conspicuous than in one of those bas-reliefs of Assurbanipal that figure the episodes of a chase of wild asses (Fig- 74)- Contrary to their usual habits the herd have allowed themselves to be surprised. One of those armies of beaters who are yet em- ployed by eastern sovereigns on such occasions, has driven them upon the hunters. The latter, preceded by their dogs, throw themselves upon the herd, which breaks up in all directions. They pierce those that are within reach with their arrows ; those that do not fall at once are pursued and brought down by the hounds. We cannot reproduce the whole scene, 1 but we doubt m ■'«!»■ ■'"■- ,'-.VA' Fig. 73. — Chariot horses ; from Layard. whether there is any school of animal painters that has produced anything more true to nature than the action of this poor beast stopping in the middle of his flight to launch futile kicks at his pursuers. The ibex and the wild goat figure in the same sculptured pictures. One marching in front of the herd turns and anxiously sniffs the wind, while her companion quietly browses by her side ; farther off, two kids trot by the side of their mother. The alarm has not yet been given, but upon the next slab the artist shows the headlong flight that follows the discovery of the enemy. Naturally it is the wild and domestic animals of Mesopotamia and 1 Other incidents, figured with no less spirit, will be found in Rawlinson, The Five Great Monarchies, vol. i. pp. 355, 356 ; 516, 517.