Sect. IL] Scidptiire^ 141 



kinds of statuary, \\\\\X:\\ modern genius lias in- 

 vented, are worthy of notice in this brief sketch of 

 the pecuHarities of the last age. Those in parti- 

 cular by Wedgwood and Bentley of (neat Bri- 

 tain are entitled to the highest praise. Modern 

 artists are also distinguished, above all others, by 

 the facility and accuracy with which they take 

 copies of antique specimens of sculpture, in com- 

 mon plastic materials. The utility, as well as ele- 

 gance, of this mode of multiplying the monuments 

 of ancient genius, make it worthy of being noticed 

 among the honours of the eighteenth century. 



In France a new method of representing the 

 human figure has been lately adopted. Guirhard 

 and Dehl, of that country, in 1800, completed a 

 human figure in porcelain, of four feet high. This 

 ys, probably, the largest made of the same material 

 ever seen. They can, however, still magnify them 

 to the size of life. The advantages to be derived 

 from adopting this kind of statuary are durability, 

 cheapness, and expedition and ease of production. 

 Porcelain is as hard as silex, and less liable to in- 

 jury than marble. These figures may be prepared 

 in a mould, by which means the statues of great 

 men may be multiplied with little labour, and at 

 a small expense *. 



J\Ir. James Tassie, of London, with a view to 

 the further advancement of the imitative arts, has 

 discovered a method of transferring the figures and 

 heads of antique and modern engraved gems into 

 coloured glass and enamel, similar to the originals 

 in colour, durabiHty, and brilliancy. This has 



* Garnet's MnaU ofPhilosophi/, Sec. for 1800. 



