12 INTRODUCTION. 



the meaning of such a display, for painting 

 is an universal language that all countries 

 equally understand . ' ' Painters," says Browne, 

 '' are the visible representers of things, and 

 such as by the learned sense of the eye en- 

 deavour to inform the understanding." 



When the Israelites were divided into 

 twelve tribes, their great lawgiver affixed to 

 each a certain emblem or device as a peculiar 

 mark, by which they were to be distin- 

 guished, and these were arranged according to 

 the prophetic blessing of the patriarch Jacob. 



The shields of the Greek heroes, described 

 by Homer, iEschylus, and Virgil, were no- 

 thing more than symbolical emblems allusive 

 to past exploits or predicted achievements, as 

 were also the reverses of their medals and 

 coins. 



In the early days of our own history we 

 find the rudest symbols were sufficient to 



