Greek bronzes . had settled among theEtruscans, and had there introduced their art (Pliny, xxxv. 152). Thereis no reason to doubt the authenticity of this tradition, or to assume thatit had been invented by the Greeks as a sort of claim of superiority orprecedence on their part over the Etruscans, because the story is not toldprimarily in connection with these artists. They only come in incidentallyas having accompanied in his exile from Corinth Damaratos from whomdescended Tarquin, the King of Rome. Artists do not usually expatriatethemselves among barbarians. When they leave their home they
Greek bronzes . had settled among theEtruscans, and had there introduced their art (Pliny, xxxv. 152). Thereis no reason to doubt the authenticity of this tradition, or to assume thatit had been invented by the Greeks as a sort of claim of superiority orprecedence on their part over the Etruscans, because the story is not toldprimarily in connection with these artists. They only come in incidentallyas having accompanied in his exile from Corinth Damaratos from whomdescended Tarquin, the King of Rome. Artists do not usually expatriatethemselves among barbarians. When they leave their home they lookforward to some favourable opportunity of cultivating their art andprospering in it, and on that principle we may fairly suppose that theseCorinthian workers in terra - cotta had been aware before they startedthat in Etruria they would find their particular branch of art alreadybeing practised and received with favour. ^ Pliny, xxxv. 157, Elaboratam hanc artem Italiae et maxime Livy, xxxiv. 4, Fig. 14.—Bronze Etruscan Mirror with relief: Heracles carr-^ing off a WomanArchaic—Sixth Century British Museum. i GREEK BRONZES 39 In relating this tradition of the Corinthian artists, Pliny adds that inthe opinion of some the art of modelling had been practised long beforethat time in the island of Samos, which lies close to the western coast ofAsia Minor. At present there is every reason to accept this ancient beliefas we founded. Every year brings fresh evidence in its favour. We cannot any longer overlook a beUef prevalent among theEtruscans themselves that their ancestors had originally come from AsiaMinor. In support of that belief we may adduce this strong bent oftheirs towards sculpture in terra-cotta. But the most we can be quiteconfident about is that in early historical times Corinth had stood inclose relationship with Samos and Asia Minor in the East and withEtruria in the West, that Corinth had learned much of the art of workingin terra-cotta from
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