326 ETRUSCAN VASES. 



the vase in spirits of wine, or sometimes merely by washing 

 it with water, when the colors speedily disappear; whereas 

 the ancient, being burnt in, are unhurt by this test. 



Their weight, and the color of the clay, are likewise means 

 by which they may be readily distinguished, as also by the 

 fineness of the varnish. When the vases are taken from the 

 ground, they are generally covered with a thick white calca- 

 reous crust. This is removed by means of muriatic acid, 

 which does not in the least affect the black varnish, so dura- 

 ble is the composition of which it is made. When we con- 

 sider the rapidity with which they must have been executed, 

 from the quick absorption of the colors by the clay, and the 

 impossibility of removing the black lines on the red ground, 

 we cannot but admire the more, the boldness and correctness 

 of the drawing, and the elegance and grace of the composi- 

 tion. So widely were these vases diffused, that a Roman 

 station being discovered near the Hague, many cups and 

 vases of fine red pottery were to be seen among the ruins (in 

 1823), with the names of the Greek artists who had manu- 

 factured them, distinctly stamped on the under side.* 



HENRIETTA. 



But, aunt, you call these vases Italo-Greek; I thought that 

 they had been Etruscan 1 ? 



MRS. F. 



That the Etruscans fabricated vases, as well as the Greeks, 

 is acknowledged; but they may generally be distinguished 

 from each other. The subject painted is usually the type of 

 their origin. The varnish of the Etruscan vase is less bril- 

 liant; the earth of a different color; the ornaments less grace- 

 ful; and the style of the figure, which is drawn in black upon 

 the clay, has all the characters assigned to the Etruscan 

 drawing. The want of proportions; the stiff attitude; the 

 constrained position of the arms; the ill-drawn eyes; the long 



* Gell's Topography of Rome. 



