The New York herald., 1878-11-08
ART IN CYPRUS.
GENERAL DI cssNoIks OPENING LECTURE II
CHICKERING HALL.

GENERAL DI CusNoLks OPENING LECTURE ID
CHIcKERING HALL.
The first lecture Of course Of four on Cyprus
its Ancient Art and History" delivered by Gen.
eral Luigi r. di Cesnoa before a large audience at
Chickering Hall last evening. On the platform with
the lecturer seated several Of the prominent ci
zens on whose invitation the lectures given. The
lecturers remarks illustrated by programmes ON
which were cuts of specimens in the Cesnola collec
ton at the Metropolitan Museum. to which the leo
turer referred during his discourse.
In opening, General Cesnola who was introduced In
. few complimentary words by Professor r. D. Hitch
cock said that before he parted with his audience he
hoped to awaken more intelligent interest in that
grand and unique collection of Cypriote antiquities
at the Museum. which some OF our fellow citizens.
filled with love for all that pertains to art and
science have been the means of securing to the city
of New York. and which will be monument in all
time come of their wise forethought and splendid
liberahty. He proposed to show the different
influences OF Egyptian. Assyrian Ph9nician and
early Greek art as exhibited in those ancient
monuments discovered In Cyprus. He intended also
to treat Of the early history and literature of that
famous island which in ancient times the radia-
tory point Of civilization. and the place where Greek
ideas and Greek forms OF worship We're hrst de.
into contact When the Greeks first went to
Cyprus they had no developed art; their art gerlni-
stand the ancient history and art Of that island the
central meeting point OF races. # we would
'is the Pnancians s' Of sdon first took their wares
for SALE aud those Of Egypt and Assyria.
There is therefore little to wonder at that our pos.
session Of the Cypriote antiquities is regarded by
scholars abroad as European misfortune They
form the link which connects the Asiatic and Egyptian
arts with that OF Greece In the wonderful progress
which began in the East and eliminated in the sculp-
lures Of Parthenon the art of Cyprus is an important
EARLY SETTLERS
The lecturer then gave description Of the PhGni-
clans. the first colonists Of Cyprus and OF visit
to the site of Sdon The Greeks in their art he said
continuing his argument, borrowed from other ma
tons. but what they took was always OF the best.
of the island was then given and its present worth
lessness to England tellingly shown. Ezekiel was
Of Tyre. The Phnnicians. if not the original
settlers Of Cyprus, at all events the first
who can be said to have utilized the resources
to comparatively advanced civilization. Consider
ing their devotion to commerce their dependence on
PhGncia proper the chief seat OF their nationality
the PhGnicians of Cyprus could not be expected to
create any distinct phase OF art Like others in si.
lar circumstances they copied from the powerful
neghbors with whom they came in contact. These,
in the earliest period were exclusively Assyria and
be how this or that element Of de-
sign. peculiar to one or the other Of these
nations, was seized upon, partially modified and
reproduced, with the addition OF certain purely Phe-
nican characteristics The necessities OF their trade
tain features OF tho designs Of BOTH The lecturer
ferred his audience to their programmes. the speci-
mems reproduced which he described carefully It
was shown that this borrowing of features from
Egypt and Assyria resulted in mixture Of styles.
OTHER WORKS.
The colonists of Cyprus were the metal workers OF
the ancient world; but they also produced many
statues, made pottery, engraved gems and manufac-
tured articles Of taste and luxury The statues were
Of the common calcareous stone Of the island Leav-
ing for the present those after Greek and Roman
models there large number clearly initiated from
Egyptian and Assyrian work. In pottery and gem
engraving this was equally true The scarabs in the
collection. says Professor sayce OF Oxford. are
q true revelation of the history Of the
glyptic art from the earliest times to the
beginning Of the fifth century before our era.
deavored to show that in the early occupation of
Cyprus the Phnnecians mainly indebted for their
artistic designs to Egypt and Assyria he would in
the next lecture speak Of the early colonization OF
the island by the Greeks. after their return from
early times by the Settlers and Of the impulse which
they gave to Cypriote art