DOI chapter:
Chap. II: Herculaneum, Papyri - Torre del Greco - Pompeii; its Theatres, Temple, Porticos, and Villa, general Appearance and Effect - Excursion to the Aqueduct, and Palace of Caserta
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62268#0065
Ch. IL
THROUGH ITALY.
55
within the space of twelve or twenty hours at the
utmost, yet time was found to remove most
portable articles of value, such as plate, silver,
and gold ornaments, &c. as very little of this
description has been discovered. The furniture
which remains is to moderns of ecjual perhaps of
greater value, as it is better calculated to give
a clear and accurate idea of Roman manners,
as far as they are connected with such objects.
It has been often regretted, that the pictures,
furniture, and even skeletons should have been
removed, and not rather left, and carefully pre-
served in the very places and attitudes, where
they were originally discovered. Without doubt,
if articles so easily damaged, or stolen, could
with any prudence have been left in their re-
spective places, it would have heightened the
charm, and contributed in a much greater de-
gree to the satisfaction of the spectator. Pic-
tures, statues, and pillars, or other decorations,
can never produce the same effect, or excite the
same interest, when ranged methodically in a
gallery at Portici or Naples, as they would
have loitered too long, as they were there secure from the
effects of the earthquake : the slaves might be detained even
to the last moment,
THROUGH ITALY.
55
within the space of twelve or twenty hours at the
utmost, yet time was found to remove most
portable articles of value, such as plate, silver,
and gold ornaments, &c. as very little of this
description has been discovered. The furniture
which remains is to moderns of ecjual perhaps of
greater value, as it is better calculated to give
a clear and accurate idea of Roman manners,
as far as they are connected with such objects.
It has been often regretted, that the pictures,
furniture, and even skeletons should have been
removed, and not rather left, and carefully pre-
served in the very places and attitudes, where
they were originally discovered. Without doubt,
if articles so easily damaged, or stolen, could
with any prudence have been left in their re-
spective places, it would have heightened the
charm, and contributed in a much greater de-
gree to the satisfaction of the spectator. Pic-
tures, statues, and pillars, or other decorations,
can never produce the same effect, or excite the
same interest, when ranged methodically in a
gallery at Portici or Naples, as they would
have loitered too long, as they were there secure from the
effects of the earthquake : the slaves might be detained even
to the last moment,