[ 141 ] 



VII. On the- Antiquity and Advantages of EncauJHc Tainting) 



( h an Examination of the Procefi employed in that Art by 



the Ancit nis. From a Treatife entitled Antichita, Vantaggi 



e Metodo della PIttura Encaufta; Memoria del Ch. Sig, 



Giuv. Fabbroni, &c. Roma, 1797. Quarto. 



Fi 



[Co;-c!uded from page 31 } 



ROM what has been already laid, it appears that encau- 

 ftic paintingis much better calculated than oil paintingto with- 

 ftand the power of time and the influence of thofe circum- 

 ftances which deftroy fooner any other kind. It affords this 

 advantage alfo to the painter, that he can lay on an un- 

 changeable white, which cannot be ufed in oil painting, as 

 is proved by the fragment of a mummy above mentioned. 



A\ e are indebted in particular to Nardi, Borrichias, and 

 Jablonfki, for hints how to employ with advantage the 

 Egyptian remains of antiquity ; but one cannot help wonder- 

 ing, notwithstanding all the illuftrations of thefe learned 

 men, that they feem to be for little valned, and that mummies 

 are now almoft baniihed to apothecaries' fhops, though they 

 are often monuments of fculpture On account of the exterior 

 cafes in which they are preferved ; of painting, on account 

 of their clothing and bandages; and perhaps alfo of hiftory, 

 on account of the hieroglyphics which fcrve on them as 

 inferiptions. h\ regard to the two fir ft eircumftances, mum- 

 mies have not hitherto been mmcienfly valued by thofe who 

 neither trace out the progrefs of the human mind, nor are 

 interested in- enquiries refpeciing the infancy of the arts-. 

 With regard to the laft point of fo much importance, we 

 often hear people fay : Of what ufe is it to coHecl things of 

 which we understand nothing ? It may, however, be eafily 

 perceived that this is not the language of philofophy, whofe 

 penelratincr eye fees farther, and which values every thing. 

 Leibnitz confidered it impoflible to read and explain the 

 Ltrufcan inferiptions ; he even doubted whether they were 

 6 character* 



