XIV 



Portraits, Medallions, Artistic Work 163 



many of his Etruscan vases. In June 1773 Sir 

 William addressed a letter from Naples to Wedgwood 

 and Bentley, as follows : 



" Gentlemen As I have nothing more at heart 

 than to contribute, as far as I can, towards the ad- 

 vancement of the Fine Arts in Great Britain, and as 

 your manufacture has indeed already done great honour 

 to my poor endeavours, I have the pleasure of sending 

 you a few drawings of most elegant formed vases which 

 are in the Great Duke of Tuscany's collection, and 

 differ from those found in my collection. They are 

 truly worthy of your imitation, and as the originals are 

 simply black with the ornaments in relief, your ware is 

 capable of imitating them exactly." 



Wedgwood proceeded to copy the vases. It may be 

 added that Sir William Hamilton's valuable collection 

 of Greek and Etruscan vases is now in the British 

 Museum, together with many of the marbles dug up 

 from Herculaneum, now in the Townley Gallery of the 

 same museum. 



Hackwood, the modeller, was now busily employed. 

 " I hope," said Wedgwood to Bentley, " that you have 

 read Mr. Elers' fine letter. We are preparing to send 

 down the heads of all the illustrious men in all the 

 Courts and Countries of Europe to be immortalised in 

 our artificial Jasper." 



The Paul Elers referred to was the father of 

 Ptichard Lovell Edgworth's first wife. He was also the 

 son of one of the brothers Elers, who came into 



