Phidias in Bloomsbury: B. R. Haydon's Drawings of the Elgin Marbles.

The article focuses on the drawings of Elgin Marbles painted by B. R. Haydon. According to the author, Haydon's drawings of the Elgin Marbles were used as a means of studying their form and examining their principles. He reveals that Haydon's session of intensive drawings began in January, 1811 and had his final session in January 1813. He declares that Haydon was known as the first draughtsman of the Elgin Marbles because he did the extraordinarily and highly finished drawings on blue paper, showed a distinct technical advance over early studies, and showed special qualities of vigor and animation which are lacking in similar copies by his contemporaries. Techniques used by Haydon in executing the drawings are also discussed.