The New York herald., 1878-11-22
FINE ARTS.

HISTORY"
In ChickeYing Hall cultured audience assembled
last evening to listen to General Luigi p di Cesnolas
third lecture of the course Cyprus: Its Ancient
Art and History. The lecturer said in opening that
III his two previous lectures he had given sketch of
the early history of Cyprus. In the present one he
proposed to show the steady progress of Cypriote
artists toward pure Greek art. in spite OF tho
long struggle which the island had to sustain
for more than century against Persia Tho Empire
of Persia which the ruins of that of Assyra
possessed like it, an Unsuitable desire for European
conquest and to reduce the rising Greek States. That
Cyprus should at first be its ally against Greece is
strange to see but the temptations undoubtedly
great. Later the heavy taxation of Darius caused
change of base on the part of the Cypriotes. Tho
island at this time governed by the mild rule OF
its native kings. Persia during her mastery had no
influence the arts in Cyprus, sho had
tiona art. The prosperity OF the Greeks attracted
Persian cupidity. Then came tho struggle be-
tween the despoiisln Of tho East and the
freedom Of the West. which resulted in
the triumph Of the Greek Republic. Greek art is
controlling influence everywhere This influence
was seen in the statue Of Ceres on the programme.
The thought and expression there in Greek itera-
ture moderated as to appeal to tho highest in
telaence II is free from the bombast of Assyra and
Egypt Through all its internal dissensions and
foreign wars, notably the revolt against Persia,
strange to say the arts Of Cyprus progressed steadily
and the finest examples OF archaic Greek art now ex
tant were discovered by the lecturer in Cyprus and
belong to this period. General Cesnola here gave
detailed description Of stone sarcophagus in the
collection at the Metropolitan Museum, which he
considered Of the most important examples OF
early Greek bas-relief now in existence.
The great victory which the Athenians achieved
over the Persians at Salnmis was turning point III
the struggle between the East and the West between
Eastern barbarism and Western civilization, and the
result was most beneficial to tho development Of
Greek art. For Cyprus it was especially nlonentous,
the Greeks, now being the attacking party it was
used as seat Of war; Evagorus. when he assumed
his rightfu title of King of Cyprus made every
possible preparation to increase the prosperity
and happiness of the island and looked to
island sank again into submission to Persia.
His reign the most brilliant page in the history
Ncoccs that Greek in cyprus reached its highest
point of perfection. 1t had, however. naturally
always the character Of provincial art Besides, the
productions in the cacareous stone Of Cyprus could
not be as good Us those made in Parian marble Here
General Cesnoa described couple of sculptures of
Venus in the collection. which are Of pure and
ccllent style. unsurpassed by any others found III
Cyprus. IL
Etruscans and the Romans, did not use
cophag; they cut their tombs out OF the solid rock
These other nations were inbued with the desire Of
perpetuating upon tho sarcophagi some resemblance
of the physical appearance OF the deceased One of
the favorite household ornaments III Cyprus was the
small satuette Of terra Gotta gayy painted Of which
thought to have been made exclusively for in
tombs. but such does not seem to be the case. Tho
rude figures OF horsenen which the lecturer discov
cred in great numbers i'll Cyprus are OF considerable
interest, and, he thinks. OF very remote antiquity
They show tile very early introduction OF horses into
designs and the habit the ancicns had of riding them
Homer's silence on the matter to the contrary
chariot illustrated in the programme was then
described. The OF chariOts in Greece was curl
Gus problem, considering the mountainous character
of the country. in which such form OF locomotion
would rot be convenient without good roads, which
Greece did not have to any great extent until
comparatively recent times. SO general was the
uso Of wagons or ehariots on wheels in
Europe that 1t great surprise when told
that skilled in mechanical art ~ the ancient
inhabitants Of Mexico arrived ut the invention
of a wheel . means OF locomotion. In speaking of
the material used in sculpture In Cyprus the lecturer
said that he wondered that the island. being rich
in copper bronze should not have been used for
sculpture. Little nothing of this had. however.
been discovered. In ancient literature we hear of
only two scuiptors from Cyprus. and it is not
known whether they worked in metal at all.
The fourth and concluding lecture Of the course
will be given next Wednesday evening.
DI cEsNoLAs AREEsT-wHT THE DIscovEEER OF
ANTIQUITIES THINKS OF THE OUTRAGE CON-
hrITrED ON HIS BROTHER BY THE BRITISH
AUTHORITIES IN CYPRUS.
HERALD reporter called yesterday General
Luigi =. di Cesnola in reference to Mr.. Hepworth
Dixons account of the fcrcible entrance of his
brothers dwelling and his subsequent arrest the
charge of digging for antiquities. General Cesola is
naturally indignant ut the occurrence. and stated that
he thought the English had acted outrsgcousy in the
affair. They had entered his brothers house. threat
ened TO brcak down his doors. and subsequently
rested him on his appearing before the Commissioner
for Iarnaca, Colonel White He certain that the po
lice could not do that in England The English seemed
10 have gone there not give TO the island English
civilization order and laws bnt to put In execution the
complex code used during Turkish misrule by
of Turkish police IN command of English officers
The at was OF brutal force. Even il English
laws had been in force they do justify forcibie
entrance of a mans house, Us if icswere feon. "
was u violation Of domeiic 1he Turkish laws
dcteslbie, but the Turks there did such
these The right OF cxterritoriality extended there
60 the residences OF foreigners. and they under
the protection of their consus.
MAD DEcAusE ANTIQUITIES WERE TAKEN no
AMERICA
General Cesnola's opinion is that the affair is
merely an evidence of personal spite against him.
SELF directed ut him through his brother because the
Cypriote antiquities had come TO America. They
ncrship with him. and that he intended to send the
objects found to America. This not true, as Mr.
Dixon had shown; tney were t1r England. lie had
left cyprus. The lattnr Of his vice consuls
when he w.ss. but held no oihcal position now. Mr.
Dixon believes that his brother had helped
him 10 cxcayaie the trcasurcs at Curum
and In the work at the tombs at Dali.
This was not true when lie found the former his
brother was living London. and when the tombs ut
Dali were excsvatod he was in South America. Mr..
Dixon had done no good in thus connecting his
brother with him, for II would only incense the Eng
iish against the latter. An important point in
the affair was that English officer, acting COM
missary OF police and with subo dinaes composed of
Turkish "zapticls, went 10 arrest foreigner for
wing dsobcyed Turkish and not an English law.
II had been forbidden TO dig for antiquities without
pern sion all the while the General was in cyprus;
the law had existed during the whole of his twelve
years residence there. Nevertheless 1t was dead
letter. and every discngaged peasant hard at work
digging secretly on his own account or in the
ployInent OF some of the consuls.
THE ENGLISH coNsULs ExcAvArIsG.
Mr.. r. Hamilton Lang. who was formerly British
Consul one OF the chcf employers OF tile peasants
In such work. as could be gathered from his book.
During his residence General Ccsnola believed he was
himself the only person who had frman from the
Sultan permitting him tp dig. As the law was always
inoperatiye under the Turkish rule how could il prop
ery become operative under the English at present?
They must make "a nc& law IL they wish digling.
Again. how absurd II that his brother, for
eirnor, should be brought before tribunal Of Turk
ish judges charged by an English officer with viola
ton OF the Turkish awl Mr.. Forbes article. 'The