Gell, William: Pompeiana: the topography, edifices and ornaments of Pompeii ; the result of excavations since 1819 ; in two volumes (Band 2) (London, 1832)

THE PLATES. 105

PLATE XL.

Plate XL. is an attempt to give a fac-
simile of the head of Achilles, traced on
transparent paper upon the original. The
head of Briseis, which was also beautiful,
had unfortunately suffered from the fall of a
beam intended to preserve it.

The extreme vivacity, dignity, and beauty
of the head of Achilles are but faintly ex-
pressed in this engraving, and all those
faults seem exaggerated which the skill of
the artist and the colouring of the original
concealed. One of the eyes, in particular,
is larger than the other; and there may be
other defects, which totally disappear when
observed with the entire painting, leaving
the impression of the finest youthful head in
existence.

The picture is four feet two inches high
by four feet wide. This may be a proper
place for stating that the author cannot pre-

VOL. II. p