The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-04-12

ald Nc ought not 20 csPcc; o. I'd ~ lem hl Hclks
Of thc fIst Roman and Crccian sriistc
has bcon.oiten asserted, uiat ttc ancicnts lad
Ete or no knowledge ofthc principle ofperspecye.
From my own observation, am ca. Lied 10 contra
diet the unvc salty oi this plCpOs..Cn hut Il must
be admitted, that il is the point IN which ,ey appear
TO fail most In the "dcsscn" I'D drapelv as Mcl
in giving durability TO their colours, they arc al
lowed by all parties 70 excel. A celebrated Trench
writer makes some observations this subject hich
think viii be interesting 10 you lie says, "t that
ali the paintings of Iercuancyn prove that the au-
tbors OF them no. great painters, that they were
ignorant of the natural effect of vsion and were not
sufficiently acquainted with the rules Of perspective
We know, however, that these rules were known to
the ancients Nituvius, in the preface 10 his With
book, says positively that Democritus and Anaxago-
ras had treated OF perspective in their Of the
scenery Of the Greeks" On the whole he remarks,
that these ancient paintings have easy, bold and
free style; that the manner is light very much after
the fashion Of our modern theatrical decorations, ard
that every thing indicates great practice in the art
lists, and an education in good school.
shall bring home two or three specimens, by
which you may be able judge how far these opin-
ions arc correct.
The Museum contains a vast number and variety
OF the articles OF furnitprc, and novcables, in
among the Romans There is room which is
fitted UP rs it is presumed Roman kitchen would
have been, ard all rie culinary and other utensils OF
d0mestck use are naturally arranged in IT. Is,
can assure you, very cuiious and interesting dis
play. The cGrthon and glass vessels in perfect
state Of pcservation those OF copper considerably
so, while those Of ron very much impaired The
ancient Romans made use Of baked earthcn vessels
for almost every culinary and household purpose.
TIE forms Of them similar to those Of the mod
ems, that you can entertain no doubt TO to
which they applied. TI.e quality and colour
OF the eaithen ware arc almost the same those of
our common ware, manufactured at Charlestown.
There are no specimens of porcelain, and as these
would have more easily resisted the effects OF time,
think there is good reason TO conclude that the an
clients ignorant the art Of making this article.
The most perfect earthen vessels Of the ancients
the celebrated Etrusc2n vases, OF which vast num-
bers have been iourd in iercuaneum, and the forms
and drawings Of which are much admired by antigua
rics. Their form is generally that OF an urn, though
infinitely varied they have commonly two handles
opposite to each other, and are externally ornament
cd with fgurcs of men or animals executed with
taste The outer surface, though hard, has not that
glazed surface, which so much disigurcS our earthen
vessels They are not painted in colours. The
ground is OF dark brown, approaching black, and
the figures are OF lighter brown, and appear as il
the colour had been produced simply by covering
the figures during the operation Of baking them.
The copper kettles, saucepars, and kitchen uten-
sils, have undergone in modern times but little i'm
prOvcmen, or indeed alteration. The iron tools of
husbandry or for different arts and manufactures
very little changed, at least among the descendants
OF the Romans in Italy.
You see in this collection hoes, spades, shoyels,
hstchets, pruning knives, &c. the forms Of which
exactly resemble those in present usc that you
hardly realize that they were handled by men who
lived before the Christian ara. 1t is not indeed
strange, that the same wants sfoud lead to the same
discoveries and the same means ofsuppiying them;
but our philosophers have taught us, that man is
very improving being, and that he is advancing fast
to state of perfection we ARE therefore surprised
TO ind that IN many things, which contribute to his
luxury, comfort, existence, Improvements
have been made for so many ages.
Z Letter Sd 10 be continued J