DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.786#0114
98 FIRENZE. [chap, xxxvii.
temple, with all the wood and tile-work of the roof repre-
sented in stone.8
The Vases
are all contained in one small chamber. The Tuscan
Government has not availed itself of the opportunity it
possesses of forming the finest collection of Etruscan anti-
quities in the world. Most of the articles discovered in
the Duchy pass into foreign countries,—little or nothing
finds its way to Florence. With this apathy on the part
of the Government, the collection of vases cannot be ex-
pected to be extensive or remarkably choice. Yet it is
characteristic. Most of the Etruscan sites within the
limits of Tuscany are here represented by their pottery ;
and there are even some good vases from other districts of
Italy; partly, I believe, collected, of old, by those princely
patrons of art, the Medici.
The chief glory of this collection strikes the eye on
entering. It is a huge, wide-mouthed amphora, perhaps
the largest painted vase ever found in Etruria—certainly
them. There, two others are fighting, urn, no longer in this Museum, repre-
and a monster in human form, with a sented the blinding of (Edipus. Two
ram's head, perhaps one of Circe's vie- armed men hold the old man, while a
tims, stands by with a stone in Ms hand. third thrusts a dagger into his eye ; his
One scene, where a man is presenting a two little sons are running up, each with
goblet to a female seated in a grotto, his hand to his head, to express his
recalls Comus and the lady, were it not grief; and a female is also rushing for-
that another man is approaching ward to save him, but is held back by a
stealthily, to transfix her with a spear. slave. Inghir. I. tav. LXXI; Micali,
Some of the urns described by Italian Ital. av. Rom. tav. XLVI ; Gori, I. tab.
antiquaries as in this Museum, are no 142. It will be seen that this differs
longer to be seen here. Such is a part- from the Greek version of the story
ing scene at a door. A woman, about to which represents the ill-fated son of
enter the fatal gate of Hades, is taking Laius, as blinding himself with his
farewell of her husband and family; own hand. Sophoc. (Edip. Tyr. 1270 ;
while Charun, or the minister of Death, jEsehyl. Sept. ad Theb. 783—4.
with his hammer on his shoulder, is on » In one of the reliefs on these urns,
the point of striking her down with a an arched gateway is represented, with
sword. Inghir. Mon. Etrus. I. tav. rusticated voussoin — an architectural
XXXVIII. Another very interesting fact worthy of attention.
temple, with all the wood and tile-work of the roof repre-
sented in stone.8
The Vases
are all contained in one small chamber. The Tuscan
Government has not availed itself of the opportunity it
possesses of forming the finest collection of Etruscan anti-
quities in the world. Most of the articles discovered in
the Duchy pass into foreign countries,—little or nothing
finds its way to Florence. With this apathy on the part
of the Government, the collection of vases cannot be ex-
pected to be extensive or remarkably choice. Yet it is
characteristic. Most of the Etruscan sites within the
limits of Tuscany are here represented by their pottery ;
and there are even some good vases from other districts of
Italy; partly, I believe, collected, of old, by those princely
patrons of art, the Medici.
The chief glory of this collection strikes the eye on
entering. It is a huge, wide-mouthed amphora, perhaps
the largest painted vase ever found in Etruria—certainly
them. There, two others are fighting, urn, no longer in this Museum, repre-
and a monster in human form, with a sented the blinding of (Edipus. Two
ram's head, perhaps one of Circe's vie- armed men hold the old man, while a
tims, stands by with a stone in Ms hand. third thrusts a dagger into his eye ; his
One scene, where a man is presenting a two little sons are running up, each with
goblet to a female seated in a grotto, his hand to his head, to express his
recalls Comus and the lady, were it not grief; and a female is also rushing for-
that another man is approaching ward to save him, but is held back by a
stealthily, to transfix her with a spear. slave. Inghir. I. tav. LXXI; Micali,
Some of the urns described by Italian Ital. av. Rom. tav. XLVI ; Gori, I. tab.
antiquaries as in this Museum, are no 142. It will be seen that this differs
longer to be seen here. Such is a part- from the Greek version of the story
ing scene at a door. A woman, about to which represents the ill-fated son of
enter the fatal gate of Hades, is taking Laius, as blinding himself with his
farewell of her husband and family; own hand. Sophoc. (Edip. Tyr. 1270 ;
while Charun, or the minister of Death, jEsehyl. Sept. ad Theb. 783—4.
with his hammer on his shoulder, is on » In one of the reliefs on these urns,
the point of striking her down with a an arched gateway is represented, with
sword. Inghir. Mon. Etrus. I. tav. rusticated voussoin — an architectural
XXXVIII. Another very interesting fact worthy of attention.