New-York tribune., 1884-01-13
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
ANCIENT ART.

From the French OF GEORGES PERRor. Professor IN |
and CnAILEs cnIrEz illustrated S%d WITH fSG Sates EN-
Translated aud edited by WALTER ARMSTRONG; b; A. |
OIon. 2 vols. syo London: Chapman hai
Hew-York: A. G. Armstrong & Son. 1854
The great History of Ancient Art of Professor
Georges Perrot is in many respects the most impor
tant contribution of modern times TO the literature
Of art aud archaeology As tprogresses its value be-
comes more and more apparent. The present vol
umes are an English translation OF the seeohd
volume of the French work, beng that WHICH 'e-
lates TO Chaldea Assyria, the former portion
having covered the history of art in Egypt ihese
volumes are fine specimens OF book-makhg' ana inc
illustrations are admirable as illustrative art ana
abundant to bring the descriptive text WITHIN the
comprehension of the ordinary reader as well as the
student. The value of the work to every reader OF
history. whether of msnknd or of what man has
produced. consists in the fact that we have here,
from n scholar of the first rank land none holds
biaher rank than PerrOt, the results, in dlgested
FORM of the extensive contributions to knowledge
made by Layard Rawlinson, Lotus, George smith,
Ienormant, Maspero. Oppert, and host OF othor
distinguished laborers in the field All that twenty
five wears of work in research and excavation ha0
given to the modern world, and all that scholarship
has brought to bear the Interpretation ana reia
ton of ascertained facts, have been here ooiia'eu
and commented on by one whose ability commands
our respect The result is clear and reap lole ac-
connt of all that is known. from anclenT authors
and modern discoverers. about Chaidea anu ASSSii"
in ancient times. -.
The history of art is history of various clvlllza-
tions at various periods, but through Oil we nave
certain continuous lines of art extending irom our
own days back to the remotest ages OF which we
have arr remains The of these arts lie III un-
known ages of the prehistoric man. But tracing
those lines backward, the student hnds them all
leading him toward the trunk among apeopie'
family or families race or races, of men mhaDlthg
tba, mart of Asia watered by the Tgris and the Eu-
pbrates Ii is true that we find Older works OF art
in Egypt than in Asia, but this is due to the mar
yellons preservation of antiquities Id tno Niio
Valley; while the evidence is convincing TO SCHOLARS
that the Egyptian civilization proceeded rom al
Aslatic origin. The point where 1t brancheo OH mas
not vet been reached in Asiatio exploration
The history of Chadea begins with tradition Inc
reonle when we first know them had traditions prob
ablv legends of heroic age when men talked Win
gods The definite history begins with art remains
which are with great certainty dated at somewhere
near b. C. 2OO0 Professor Perrot does not go Iniiy
into the question of the origin of the first Chal-
deans. He suggests and accepts the apparent truth
of the Mosaic account that there had Oeen prior W
tba earliest dates of which we have remains, dl-
versity of language, and an emigration hlther' lie
believes the beginnings of empire to have been IN
the lower country Chaldea. Here was the PLAIN OF
sbinar. a vast stretch of level land, unbroken py
onv elevation When we first know them the Chal-
deans had written language. This was the same
in effect. as that now called the cunehorn, which
continued in use for two thousand years with ltte
modification 1t is believed to have been ldeo-
graphic in origin If we were at all disposed 10
rticise the discussions of NJ. Perrot, we might per-
hans think that in considering this subject he mas
NOT given attention to the value of the Chaldean
bicb
tber recognizing and in fact resting on the exist
enoe of n written language among their ancestors
delivered down from far more ancient ages lie,
however deals with what he finds approved; ana
il is enough for his purpose OF exact history 10 sho"
that the earliest wedge-form inscriptions have some
though very slight, indications of design to repre-
sent natural forms. The evidence on this point Is
meagre and it is fair to say, unsatisfactory
But the controlling reason for the adoption anu
continuous use of this form of writing is highly IN
terestng That this was due to the material Oh
which the Chaldees wrote is unquestlonaDle' Inc
Egyptians used papyrus, and wrote win hquId
color Gnk on it. The Chaldcan wrote on clay. III
was under his feet everywhere. III was easy 10
form it into a tablet and impress in 1t any sign OF
letter. When it was baked in fire 1t was more I'M
perishabe than stone. The corner OF rule prcssed
on the clay made wedge-shaped marx. Nhe'her
originating in pictures, in arbitrary signs 1or
sonnds tins style of impreSsng the characters on
elay was evidently the most convenient Any
scraping or scratching with point would nave
tnrned ND flakes of clay to be cleaned OIL with dlln
Guilty Rapdity is essential to any good pIactical
art of writing. The Chaldean scrlbes became very
anid writer's The earlier style Of characters seems
10 have required that the wedge-shaped impressions
sbonld mite touching one another, to form com
nlete sign This requirement was modined, IN time
and each impression stood by itself its relations TO
Others being recognized. The letters had never the
nhonetic value which the Greek and later alphabets
possessed Tney expressed syllable sounds. We
find here as in all other WORKS on the same snOJect
the highest tribute given to the memory Oh inc
lamented George Smith, to whose intense energy
and marvellous skill the world is indebted more
than to any other scholar for introducing this nine
{eentb century world to the vast library OF Assyran
and Cbaldean literature which pottery leaves mad
made almost impershable, and which modern re-
search has recovered from the ruined palace OF AS
surbanipal.
Who were these people, Chaldeans as we now call
them among whom we find existing arts whlch
prove q high state of cultivation, and from whom
came out the founders of great empires the lathers
of races illustrious in the history of mankindf The
most eminent scholarship pauses before TINS ques-
tiop. and our present teacher contents himself WIN
summing up the. indications and suggestions OF
others leaning. doubtless somewhat to the belief
that thew came to Shnar from the high lands OF the
north. having" "a national constitution, religion
and system of legislation, the art of writing and
sbe most essential industries" OF their earlier his
NSory in their new home on the lower plans OF
Mesopotamia. it is the concurrent testimony OF all
modern discoverers that the brief accounts gwen
by the Hebrew historian Moses are so accurate as 10
require no change. All the discoveries OF explorers
which touch this subject sustain that accuracy
There is point of much interest in this connection
Me-. describes the tribes of the Tigris and Eu-
nbrates Valley as dominated in the time of Abra-
=, cLolorIoo,ner Kiuy of Elam Inscriptions