Autographs and Manuscripts
GLADSTONE AND HOMER ()
Autograph Letter Signed (W.E. Gladstone") to a Mr. Woolmer [?] thanking him for sending "Mr Watkins Lloyd's very interesting paper on the Shield of Achilles" and giving his views on the subject.4 pages 8vo in Gladstone's virtually illegible hand, Hawarden, 5 November 1863.
Gladstone was a fine classical scholar and indeed found classical studies a soothing relief from the strain of politics. The Shield of Achilles is the shield he uses to fight Hector, and is described by Homer in Book 18 of the Iliad, lines 478-608. It was made for him by the smith god Hephaistos, at the request of Achilles' mother Thetis. The adornment, as described by Homer, consists of scenes of everyday earthly life, rather than depictions of gods and battles. It is the earliest literary description of a work of art and its meaning has been much discussed; Gladstone here enters into the debate with relish." . . .1. in my belief, Mr. Lloyd is right whan he says that zalkos in Homer is copper - 2. As regards the dance on the shield, I think there is much to be said in favour of the opinion that it is the very same, which may now be seen on holidays in the villages of Corfu - 3. I think very strong reasons, of a practical kind, may be given for Homer's having chosen anonymous scenes, so to call them, making up in the aggregate a picture of contemporary life, in preference to mythical subjects . . . would these subjects have been practically suited to be the work of Hephaistos executed at the request of Thetis? I doubt it."Remains of glue at the inner margin of the last page, slighty spreading to the inner edge of the first page, where the letter was evidently removed from an album. None of the text is affected.
Stock Code: AU5658
