528 CALLOTECHNICS. 



at Phylee, Elephantis, and Silsilis, cut in the solid rock, those parts 

 which are left to support the roof, are also carved into the form of 

 statues ; something like the Grecian caryatides. The same occurs 

 in the ancient cavernous temples of Hindoostan, particularly at Ele- 

 phanta, Ellora, and Salsette, where portions of the rock are left, in 

 the form of demigods and elephants, to support the roof. The Per- 

 sians had many works of sculpture, but their figures were always in 

 drapery : and in Assyria, mention is made of brazen statues of Semi- 

 ramis, Belus, and Ninus. 



Sculpture, or rather modelling, was first practised in Greece, it is 

 said, by Dibutades, a potter of Sicyon. The earliest statues, were 

 little more than rounded blocks of wood, or stone, sculptured first 

 with the head only, but afterwards representing the entire body. 

 Daedalus improved on these rude performances, and produced statues 

 so much like life, that lie is by some regarded as the inventor of this 

 art. Rhoecus of Samos, about 750 B. C. is said to have been the 

 first who practised the casting of statues in brass ; and Dipamus and 

 Scyllis are said to have first used marble, instead of wood, or metal, 

 for statues, at Sicyon, about 600 B. C. Grecian sculpture, reached 

 its greatest perfection, in the hands of Phidias, under the administra- 

 tion of Pericles ; and retained it until the death of Praxiteles, who 

 was contemporary with Alexander the Great. The number of 

 Grecian statues is said to have amounted to upwards of 30,000, when 

 Greece was subjugated by the Romans ; but many of these were 

 afterwards removed to Rome. The ancient Etrurians made no small 

 proficiency in sculpture ; but the Romans were, for the most part, 

 only copyists of the Greeks. 



After the lapse of the dark ages, Sculpture was first revived in 

 Italy, by the labours of Ghiberti, who died in 1455, and Donatello, 

 who died in 1466. Michael Angelo was scarcely less celebrated as 

 a sculptor, than as a painter ; though all his works are in the same 

 grand and severe style. Benevento Cellini, was alike distinguished 

 as a sculptor, goldsmith, and engraver ; and Bernini was also a 

 sculptor of genius. To Canova belongs the high distinction of 

 having rivalled the ancients in beauty, as Michael Angelo did in 

 grandeur ; and the mantle of the latter seems to have fallen on Thor- 

 waldsen of Denmark. France has produced her Puget, whose style, 

 though cold was grand and classical ; and her Falconet, who wrote 

 upon his art, as well as practised it, with ability. England may also 

 boast of her Flaxman, Chantry, and Westmacott; and the names of 

 Greenough, and Powers, already do credit, in this branch of art, to 

 our own young republic. 



Our remaining remarks on Sculpture, will be arranged under the 

 heads of Modelling ; Carving ; Casting ; and Glyphography, or 

 descriptions of remarkable statues. 



1. The art of Modelling, consists in forming a representation of 

 any object, out of some soft material, by pressing or moulding it 

 with the hands, or proper instruments. It is the common practice of 

 sculptors, before carving a statue in marble, or casting it in metal, to 

 form a model of it in clay ; which admits of repeated alterations, 

 until the artist has exhausted his skill in perfecting it. In this process, 



