Hamilton, William; Kirk, Thomas: Outlines from the figures and compositions upon the Greek, Roman and Etruscan vases of the late Sir William Hamilton: with engraved borders (London, 1814)

The double flute, which was of very early in-
vention, some say it was by Minerva, was some-
times made of the bones of the stag, but more
commonly of brass or copper, or of small pieces
of bone or ivory fastened together with plates of
metal. From this design it is observeable, that
women sometimes appeared in these scenes with-
out masks. As Suidas says, that Phrynicus, who
obtained the prize in the sixty-seventh Olympiad,
first introduced female characters on the stage,
it is clear, that this painting is later than the time
of that poet, who is supposed to be a pupil of
Thespis.

The expression of this design is very remark-
able ; in the attitude of the arm of the flute player,
we may observe the constraint, which is produced
by the difficulty of walking and playing at the
same time. The direction of her eyes shews her
attention to the dancer, that the cadence may be
exact. And in his action there is a degree of
comic effect, well suited to the mask he wears.

PLATE IX.

The subject of this Plate is unknown, at least
there is no account of it in Sir William Ha-