Pompeii, its history, buildings, and antiquities : an account of the destruction of the city with a full description of the remains, and of the recent excavations, and also an itinerary for visitors . of her most bewitching attributes. Achilles presents thefair one to the heralds on his right, and his attitude, hismanly beauty, and the magnificent expression of his counte-nance are inimitable. The tent seems to be divided by a drapery about breast-high, and of a sort of dark-bluish green, like the tent this stand several warriors, the golden shield of oneof whom, whether intentio
Pompeii, its history, buildings, and antiquities : an account of the destruction of the city with a full description of the remains, and of the recent excavations, and also an itinerary for visitors . of her most bewitching attributes. Achilles presents thefair one to the heralds on his right, and his attitude, hismanly beauty, and the magnificent expression of his counte-nance are inimitable. The tent seems to be divided by a drapery about breast-high, and of a sort of dark-bluish green, like the tent this stand several warriors, the golden shield of oneof whom, whether intentionally or not on the part of thepainter, forms a sort of glory round the head of the principalhero. 372 POilPEII. It is probably the copy of one of the most celebratedpictures of antiquity. When first discovered the colours were fresh, and theflesh particularly had the transparency of Titian. It sufferedmuch and unavoidably during the excavation, and somethingfrom the means taken to preserve it, when a committee ofpersons qualified to judge had decided that the wall on whichit was painted was not in a state to admit of its removal withsafety. At length, after an exposure of more than two years,. Achilles delivering Briseis to the Heralds. it was thought better to attempt to transport it to the Studiiat Naples than to suffer it entirely to disappear from thewall. It was accordingly removed with success in the summerof the year 1826, and it is hoped that some remains of itmay exist for posterity. The painter has chosen the moment when the heraldsTalthybius and Eurybates are put in possession of Briseis, HOUSE OF THE TRAGIC POET 373 to escort her to the tent of Agamemnon, as described in thefirst book of the Iliad,* and thus translated by Pope :— Patroclus now the unwilling beauty brought •She in soft sorrow and in pensive thoughtPassed silent, as the heralds held her hand,And oft looked back, slow moving oer the sand. The head of Achilles is so full of fire and animation, that
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Keywords: ., bookauthordyerthomashenry180418, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860
