DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0540
434 MUSIGNANO. [chap. xxii.
state. Most of this pottery had been found in fragments, and
had been cemented together by an artist in the pay of the
Prineess. Articles thus restored are not unsaleable, nor
indeed materially lessened in value, if the paintings them-
selves be not injured ; and even when these are imperfect,
if the part deficient be not so large as to destroy the whole
beauty and meaning of the subject; or if it be such as
may be easily restored by a skilful pencil, the vase will
not be greatly depreciated. Articles in a very imperfect
state will sometimes fetch enormous prices. The King of
Bavaria, it is said, gave several thousands of crowns for a
fragment of a patera; and has offered as much more for
the missing portion, if it be discovered. So skilful are
some of these restorers, that they will make imperfect
vases pass for perfect, so as almost to deceive the best
judges. The fractures are sometimes only to be detected
by aquafortis.
Several of these vases had the mysterious eyes painted
on them, which are so often found on the pottery of Vulci;
and a curious specimen of which is given in the woodcut
at the head of this chapter, copied from an amphora in
the British Museum.2
The bronze articles in the cabinet, though not nume-
rous, were in excellent preservation, and some of great
beauty ; indeed the bronzes of Vulci are inferior to none
2 This scene is remarkable, inasmuch feet; and behind them are Diana with
as the eyes are made to represent the her bow, and Mercury with his petasm,
winged bodies of monsters, convention- caduceas and talaria. On the other side
ally called Syrens, though here of both of the amphora, the pair of human-
sexes. Such Syrens are commonly sup- headed, eye-bodied birds is repeated, but
posed to be emblems of souls ; but between them is the favourite subject
Micali (Ant. Pop. Ital. III. p. 129) of Peleus and Thetis (see Micali, loc.
regards them in this instance to be cit. tav. LXXXIV). Such eyes have
Bacchus and Libera, or the great infernal been found in the form of panthers'
deities. Between them stands Apollo heads. For further remarks on the eyed
playing the lyre, with the hind at his vases, see the Appendix, Note I.
state. Most of this pottery had been found in fragments, and
had been cemented together by an artist in the pay of the
Prineess. Articles thus restored are not unsaleable, nor
indeed materially lessened in value, if the paintings them-
selves be not injured ; and even when these are imperfect,
if the part deficient be not so large as to destroy the whole
beauty and meaning of the subject; or if it be such as
may be easily restored by a skilful pencil, the vase will
not be greatly depreciated. Articles in a very imperfect
state will sometimes fetch enormous prices. The King of
Bavaria, it is said, gave several thousands of crowns for a
fragment of a patera; and has offered as much more for
the missing portion, if it be discovered. So skilful are
some of these restorers, that they will make imperfect
vases pass for perfect, so as almost to deceive the best
judges. The fractures are sometimes only to be detected
by aquafortis.
Several of these vases had the mysterious eyes painted
on them, which are so often found on the pottery of Vulci;
and a curious specimen of which is given in the woodcut
at the head of this chapter, copied from an amphora in
the British Museum.2
The bronze articles in the cabinet, though not nume-
rous, were in excellent preservation, and some of great
beauty ; indeed the bronzes of Vulci are inferior to none
2 This scene is remarkable, inasmuch feet; and behind them are Diana with
as the eyes are made to represent the her bow, and Mercury with his petasm,
winged bodies of monsters, convention- caduceas and talaria. On the other side
ally called Syrens, though here of both of the amphora, the pair of human-
sexes. Such Syrens are commonly sup- headed, eye-bodied birds is repeated, but
posed to be emblems of souls ; but between them is the favourite subject
Micali (Ant. Pop. Ital. III. p. 129) of Peleus and Thetis (see Micali, loc.
regards them in this instance to be cit. tav. LXXXIV). Such eyes have
Bacchus and Libera, or the great infernal been found in the form of panthers'
deities. Between them stands Apollo heads. For further remarks on the eyed
playing the lyre, with the hind at his vases, see the Appendix, Note I.