from December 1826 to August 1827. 247 



tion. On entering this house, we look across the atrium ^nd 

 the summer parlour. At the bottom of the peristylium, there 

 is a fountain encrusted with shells and glass mosaic, similar to 

 the one excavated some time ago. Near the outer door there 

 is a small staircase, leading to the upper storey, or rather to the 

 roof, as its diminutive size prevents us from supposing the ar- 

 chitect could intend it for any nobler purpose. The atrium is 

 Tuscan, painted grotesquely with little flying figures on a red 

 ground : among them the most remarkable are the figure of a 

 winged female, with a garland of flowers in one hand, and a 

 young boy in her arms ; a little figure of a female in flowing 

 drapery, with a palm branch in her hand ; and a harp-player 

 seated at her instrument. In the summer parlour, enriched by 

 a beautiful mosaic pavement, the walls are ornamented with a 

 variety of fruit and richly plumed birds. The portico, fur- 

 nished with only two rows of pillars, has on the opposite walls 

 a representation of the same number of columns, corresponding 

 with the real ones, and between them there are landscapes 

 sketched with great spirit, and of a much larger size than any 

 hitherto discovered. These are chiefly views taken on the sea- 

 coast. On the left appears a large harbour, with several vessels 

 at anchor : there is a building erected on a small island, united 

 to the adjoining land by a singular bridge, which is approached 

 by means of a stair, removeable like a draw-bridge. In front 

 is seen a two-oared bark, with sails exactly similar to those used 

 at present in the Bay of Naples. At the side of this there is a 

 building constructed on some rocks in the middle of the water, 

 with a fisherman seated, and in the act of drawing his net. 

 Among many other sketches there is one of a man on horseback, 

 followed by a large dog, and wearing a hat which bears a con- 

 siderable resemblance to those pointed ones which the peasants 

 of Campania have at present. In the centre of the colonnade 

 opposite the door, there is a fountain, in the form of a small al- 

 tar, with its niche and top richly decorated with mosaic and 

 shells. In the middle of the semicircular basin of this fountain, 

 there was found, on a round pedestal, a little winged boy of 

 bronze, with one hand raised, and embracing with the other a 

 goose, which was in the act of flapping with its wings, and ejecU 

 ing a stream of water into the basin. Towards the centre of 



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