look at the way in which the abdomen of the man moves into the chest of the horse. and we can imagine the way the backbone of both the animals might have united to become one. there is really a sense of believability even in this impossible creature. and we have a very realisstic vision of the rocky landscape. these figures have to occupy. the figures of fallen centaur on the left and fallen lion on the right are foreshortened, helping to create this illusion of space. look at the beautiful foreshortening in this still operating centaur. and the way in which the horses legs are going back in space is really beautifully done and the fact that it is done in stone makes it even more impressive. that is really a remarkable achievement. and i would have loved to seen this in it's greater context, in hadrians dining room in his palace