among the Ancients. 553 



fluccoed ornaments in our modern rooms. Nor 

 do any of them feem the works of artifts equal in 

 their day to thofe at prefent employed on the 

 painted ceilings of private houfes.* 



That fome technical knowledge of the effect 

 producible by majfes of light and fliade was 

 poflfefled by the ancients, appears to. me indubi- 

 table from the pafifages adduced j to what extent 

 it was carried, cannot now be afcertained. In 

 all probability they v,^ere much inferior in this 

 refpeft to the moderns ; otherwife, although much 

 fcience of this kind could hardly be expected 

 from the trifling performances that remain, much 

 more would have occurred on the fubjefl, more 

 largely dwelt on, and more precifely exprefTed, 

 among the obfervations of ancient authors on the 

 beft paintings of the ancient mafters. 



Neither is there fufficient evidence that the 

 ancients were eminent in that other important 

 branch of the compofition of a pidlure, which 

 confifts in diftributing the figures and objecSts in 

 groups or mafies ; not merely fo as to prevent the 

 appearance of confufion, and afllgn to each 

 figure the degree of prominence and aflion due 

 to his refpedlive importance in the ftory, but in 

 fuch a manner alfo, that by their mutual con- 

 nection with, and dependance on each other, no 

 particular group, nor any fingle figure therein, 

 {hall appear complete of itfelf, but as parts only, 



* Such as thofe in Pordand Place for inftance, Harley 



llreet, &c. in London. , • • 



harmonizin 



§ 



