Wilkinson, John Gardner: Topographie of Thebes, and general view of Egypt: being a short account of the principal objects worthy of notice in the valley of the Nile, to the second cataracte and Wadi Samneh, with the Fyoom, Oases and eastern desert, from Sooez to Bertenice (London, 1835)

Chap. III.] DECLINE OF EGYPTIAN-ART. 1G3

Egyptian art; and shortly after the Roman con-
quest, the human figure, the hieroglyphics, and
even the subjects represented in the temples,
scarcely retained a trace of their former spirit.
Yet their edifices were grand and majestic, and
the antiquary feels additional regret as he contem-
plates the remains of that era, bespeaking still the
existence of Egyptian science, whose unworthy
sculpture betrays the secret of its downfall. Ar-
chitecture, more dependent on adherence to cer-
tain rules than the sister art, was naturally less
speedily affected by the decline of the taste and
ingenuity of its professors; and as long as encou-
ragement was held out to their exertions, the
grandest edifices might yet be constructed from
mere imitation, or from the knowledge of the means
necessary for their execution. But this could never
be the case with sculpture, which had so many
more requisites than previous example or mere
custom,—nor could success be attained by the
routine of mechanism, or the servile imitation of
former models.

However slight may be the interest felt by a
stranger who only visits Egyptian monuments to
satisfy the curiosity generally entertained for dis-
tant objects, none can look upon the remains of
Thebes without feeling persuaded of the grandeur
of the city they once adorned, or the skill of the
artists who directed their execution.

M 2