152 Mr. Delaval on the Caufe of the 



It is not my purpofe in this brief review of the 

 colouring arts, to advert to their condition at that 

 period, as they had then fallen from their primi- 

 tive excellence ; nor to confider them in any other 

 refpecl, than that which regards the beauty, and 

 durability, of the colours, abftraded from any 

 other circumftances whatfoever. 



The paints, which Apelles ufed, were fo 

 bright, that he found it expedient to glaze his 

 pidures, with a dufky varnifh, that the vividnefs 

 of the colours might not offend the fight.* 



But notv^ithftanding the allowed merit of thig 

 celebrated painter, and of his cotemporaries, in 

 the execution of their art, their colours were 

 greatly furpalTed, in variety, brightnefs, and per- 

 manency, in the works which had been perfeded 

 lonsr before fuch arts were cultivated in Greece: 

 and which, after fo long a feries of ages, ftill 

 continue unimpaired, and probably will ever re- 

 main lb, unlefs deflroyed by violence. 



I have felefted the following pafiages, relative 

 to this fubje(5V, from the authentic defcription 



• Inventa ejus et casterls profuere in arte. Unum imitari 

 nemo potuir, quod abfoluta opera atramento illinebat ita 

 tenui, ut idipfutn repercuffu clarttates oculorum excitaret, 

 culiodiretque a piilvere at fordibus, ad manum intuenti de- 

 mum appareret. Sed et tum ratione magna ne colorum dar'ita: 

 eculorum acicm offeuderet, veluti per lapidem fpecularem in- 

 tuendbus e longinquo. 



Plinii L. XXXV. Cap. 10. 

 which 



