Gell, William: Pompeiana: the topography, edifices and ornaments of Pompeii ; the result of excavations since 1819 ; in two volumes (Band 1) (London, 1832)

148 POMPEIANA.

of a beautiful Venus painted in tempra, or
distemper, upon the wall. The colouring is
quite that of Titian, and the attitude not
unlike that of the Venus dei Medici. One
hand is held up over the head, and supports
a light, undiriating blue drapery. On the
ground is a dove and the myrtle branch, the
emblems of the goddess. More of this ex-
quisite painting might, possibly, have been
preserved by greater care in excavating,
though the plaster, in many parts, adhered
but slightly to the wall.

Still proceeding to the left, the first small
chamber is painted of a yellow colour with
black pilasters; and, from this, a narrow stair-
case ascended to the upper story of the house.

That an upper floor was usual at Pompeii
may be proved by the frequent staircases,
and the remains of the painted walls of the
upper rooms, above the holes for placing
the beams over the lower apartments ; while
the slight construction of these walls renders
very improbable the existence of any still
superior chambers, though Juvenal remarks,
Sat. III., that the houses very commonly
fell with a tremendous crash. During the