Q% ANALYSIS OF ANTIQUE BRONZES. 



bronze: it is sufficient to say', that, except this mirror and 

 the rivets already mentioned, J always found the alloy con- 

 tained from 9 to 15 per cent of tin. 



7. Analysis of the quadriga of Chios. 



Quadriga of The proportions of the alloy of this masterpiece of anti- 

 Chios, quity bear no resemblance to those already mentioned. It 

 has been long asserted, that these horses were the work of 

 Lysippus, contemporary of Alexander, who is known in the 

 history of the arts as the greatest master in the execution of 

 equestrian statues: but several modern connoisseurs dispute 

 this, and say the horses are in too clumsy a style, to have 

 been the work of Lysippus. 

 History. It is admitted however, that they were brought from 

 Chios to Constantinople in the reign of Theodosius I. In 

 1204, when the croisaders made themselves masters of that 

 city for the second time, pillaged it, and set it on tire, this 

 quadriga escaped the destruction, that befel many ancient 

 works of art. On dividing the plunder, the doge Dandolo 

 destined these horses for the republic of Venice. After his 

 death the podestat Martin Zeno serit them to Venice with 

 other parts of the spoil, and the doge Peter Ziani orna- 

 mented with them the entrance to the cathedral of St. 

 Mark. About six centuries after, in 1798, they were re- 

 moved to Paris, and placed at the two entrances of the 

 square of the Carrousel. Since that time they have been 

 brought together again, and harnessed to a chariot, to de- 

 corate the triumphal arch in that square. 

 Fabrication. These four horses were not cast at once, like statues in 

 bronze, but are composed of separate parts, wrought with 

 the chisel, and afterward joined together. The hollows in 

 the hind parts are rilled with lead, which has assumed its 

 snining reddish appearance. These parts are gilt: yet the 

 gilding is nearly effaced, though, according to JBuonarotti, 

 the gold with which the ancients covered their bronze was to 

 ours as six to one. 

 Of copper These horses were supposed to be of copper, because this 

 metal takes gilding better than bronze ; and I have been en- 

 abled to verify the fact on a small piece weighing 40 grains, 

 which was sent me. From this it appears, that the copper 



was 



