1846.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



179 



great painters of the day. They chie6y represent myths ; historical subjects 

 are rare, and seldom of later date than the time of Cyrus. Representations 

 of Crcesus on the funeral pile, Musaeus, Anacreon, and the Athenian Codrus, 

 have been found. In the inscriptions of these vases, the use of the E and 0, 

 instead of the II and n, affords a strong presumption that their date is 

 earlier than the archonship of Euclides, b.c. 40-t, — the recorded epoch of 

 the introduction of the double letters into the Greek alphabet. The finest 

 Bpecimens of this style are from Campania, Canino and Vulci. Of the Athe- 

 nian school of pottery contemporary with these vases we have examples in 

 the lecythi buried with the dead, and the alabastra, or phials for unguents, 

 so called from the material of which they were originally made. They are 

 of a fine red clay, covered with a white pigment, on which designs were 

 traced in black, sienna, brown, or scarlet. The subjects of the lecythi are, 

 principally, the meeting of Electra and Orestes at the tomb of Agamemnon, 

 and other scenes from the Oresteid of the three tragedians. On the alabas- 

 tra are represented the meetings of Athenian ladies and their lovers. Be- 

 sides these kinds of pottery, the vases with red figures on black grounds are 

 also found at Athens, — but are not so peculiarly the product of the Attic 

 school. 



The third period of Greek Fictile Art may be considered to range from 

 the close of the Peloponnesian was, b.c. 404, to the time of Alexander the 

 Great, B.C. 333. To this time belong the fine vases of Apulia, — particularly 

 those of Ruvo, the ancient Rubastini. Among the most beautiful examples 

 may be mentioned the vase of the potter Meidias, in the British Museum, 

 with the subject of Castor and Pollux carrying oft" the daughters of Leucip- 

 pus, — the vase with the subject of the Toilet of Aphrodite, belonging to Mr. 

 Rogers, — and that with the myth of Dionysos and the Camel, the property 

 of the Duke of Hamilton. The design, in these vases, is characterized by 

 greater freedom and technical skill in drawing, and more complexity of group- 

 ing ; the lines of the composition are more flowing and luxuriant. — This fer- 

 tility of invention and dexterity of execution immediately preceded the com- 

 plete decadence of vase painting. In that part of Italy now called the Basi- 

 licata, a coarse style arose after the time of Alexander the Great ; — the ex- 

 tant specimens of which enable us distinctly to trace the progressive decline 

 of the art. Clumsy, full forms, like those of the Flemish school of painting, 

 were substituted for the graceful proportions of the earlier Greek style ; the 

 ornaments are crowded and ill designed, and the subjects almost limited to 

 the Dionysiac rites, — then very prevalent in Italy. The taking of Syracuse, 

 by Marcellus, 212 b.c, may be considered the final epoch of the art of Greek 

 vase painting ; after which time it is probable that the manufacture of them 

 ceased. 



From a survey of the history of (5reek Fictile art, it appears that, in each 

 successive period, the subjects represented on the vases were supplied from 

 the myths commemorated in the popular poetry of the day. It is remark- 

 able, that the epoch when the art of vase painting ceased is distinguished in 

 the history of the Greek mind by the extinction of poetic invention, the cor- 

 ruption of taste, and the decay of ancient faith and regard for national tra- 

 dition. It would seem that Fictile Art obeyed the general law of national 

 decadences; and that when the subjects of the vase painter ceased to be of 

 popular interest, his art was no longer needed. 



Mr. Birch illustrated his remarks by the fine collection of Greek vases on 

 the table before bim ; and, after describing the painted vases, called the at- 

 tention of the meeting to three fine examples of the black Greek ware of the 

 latest period from Benghazi, the ancient Berenice, near Tunis, — one of which 

 had an inscription of palaeographic interest. These rare specimens were ex- 

 hibited by Mr. Bidwell. 



Mr. Birch then proceeded to give an account of some varieties of Roman 

 ware found in this country. 1st. The so-called Saraian or red ware, appa- 

 rently imitated from the fabric of the early Etruscan black ware. It is or- 

 namented with reliefs, the whole vase being either cast in a mould, or por- 

 tions of embossed work laid on the plain surface. The clay is red, and ap- 

 parently an artificial compound ; it is generally glazed. The reliefs are 

 coQimonly hunting subjects, but are sometimes mythological. This ware is 

 found in great abundance in Italy and throughout the Roman provinces. It 

 is called by the Roman writers Aretine ware, from Arctium, or Arezzo, — 

 where a celebrated manufacturer of it continued probably till the 8th cen- 

 tury, AD. — I'his ware is generally stamped with the name of the potter, who 

 appears to have been of servile condition, and occasionally of a barbarous 

 race. The recurrence of the same potter's name in the specimens found in 

 England, Holland, and other parts of the Roman Empire, would lead rather 

 to the inference that it was all issued from one or more great central manu- 

 factories in Italy ; though it has been strongly maintained that the speci- 

 mens found in Britain and other provinces were the product of native pot: 

 teries. Specimens of this ware were exhibited by Sir Phihp Egerton, Bart., 

 from Northwich, in Cheshire, — where a Roman pottery is supposed to have 

 existed, — and also by Mr. Talbot.— Mr. Birch proceeded to point out and 

 compare a variety of specimens of the coarse j allow, dark blue, uiiglazed 

 red, black, and light red terra-coua tioman ware, — chiefly from the collec- 

 tion of the Marquis of Northampton. 



Some interesting examples of Celto-Roman ware, recently discovered at 

 Harpenden, Herts, were exhibited by the Rev H. Addingtun. Mr. Birch 

 pointed out the distinction, in fabric and material, between these works of 

 the Romanized Britons and the genuine British ware of ruder and coarser 

 character, found in barrows. Excellent types ot the latter were exhibited 

 by E. Strutt, Esq., M.P., and by Sir Philip Egerton, Bart. 



Among the specimeas illustrative of viediaval pottery may be noticed a 



remarkable fragment from the collection of Mr. Whincopp. It appeared to 

 have formed part of a vessel ornamented with a Gothic architectural design, 

 in high relief, and bore a very brilliant green glaze. 



The specimens of Maiolica, or Faenza ware, contributed by Mr. Mayer, of 

 Liverpool, and Mr. Gowen, were numerous and good. The Secretary, in 

 alluding to them observed, that Dr. Klemm, of Dresden, was of opinion that 

 this ware was first made suosequently to the introduction of Chinese porce- 

 lain into Europe, by the Portuguese, in 1518. The earliest manufacture 

 was at Faenza ; but Urbino and Sienna became afterwards celebrated for it. 

 It has been supposed that many of the designs are from the hand of Raf- 

 faelle himself; but although a letter from the great painter to the Duchesa 

 d'Urbino has been cited, stating that the drawings ordered by that princess 

 for porcelain were in progress, it is probable that most of these subjects were 

 furnished by engravings after the great masters. Mr. Mayer also exhibited 

 some curious landscapes in terra cotta, which he purchased in Calabria, 

 where they were made; but he had not been able to ascertain where the 

 manufacture was situated, except that it was in the "interior." Mr. Octa- 

 vius Morgan, M.P., with reference to these specimens, made a few remarks 

 on the terra-cotta decorations of the Furstenhof at Wismar, in Mecklenburg, 

 — which he considered to be of Italian workmanship. 



The discussion was closed by Mr. Cole ; who observed upon the examples 

 illustrating the progress of the Staffordshire pottery, ancient and modern, 

 procured by Mr. II. Cole from an extensive collection made by Mr. Enoch 

 Wood, a cofemporary of M'edgewood — and from the works of Messrs. Min- 

 ton. Among the modern specimens were a copy of the Portland Vase, 

 moulded the size of the original, and reduced by firing ; a Sleeping Figure, 

 after Dresden China, with lace introduced; Encaustic Tiles (of the revived 

 manufacture of Messrs. Minton) of three colours, similar to those making 

 for the new Houses of Parliament; — and other interesting specimens of this 

 branch of our native manufactures. 



Sir Philip de Grey Egerton communicated an account of the discovery of 

 a sepulchral urn in a tumulus on Delamere Forest ; it is of earthenware, ap- 

 parently slighlly baked or sun-dried. The marks of the lathe are visible in 

 the interior; but, for want of support while the material was soft, the form 

 of the vessel is not symmetrical. Its largest circumference is 2 ft. 11 in.; 

 diameter of the foot, 5 inches; height, 1 ft. 1 in. It is rudely ornamented 

 on the upper part with parallel lines drawn diagonally in various directions. 

 — Mr. Willement sent for inspection a plaster cast from part of the iron- 

 work which formerly inclosed the monument of Queen Eleanor, in West- 

 minster Abbey. Although rough, it was sufficient to show the great beauty 

 of the original. A general sketch of the whole screen is given in " Carter'* 

 Ancient Architecture," Vol. 2, pi. vii., — in which the juxta-position of the 

 several varieties of patterns is shown. Mr. Willement considered this work 

 to he quite equal in design and execution to the more celebrated iron-work 

 on the doors of Notre Dame, at Paris ; and expressed a hope that, at the 

 recommendation of the Institute, the Dean and Chapter of Westminster 

 miglit be induced to restore this beautiful work of Mediaeval Art to its origi- 

 nal situation. 



THE GAUGE COMMISSION. 



Analysis of Evidence given before tfie Royal Commissioners appointed to Investigate 

 tile subject of the diversity of Railway Gauges. 



Robert Stephenson, Esq. : Witness's father, Mr. George Stephenson, 

 v^'as chief engineer of the Manchester and Liverpool Railway, completed 

 in 1S30. The giuge of 4 feet 8^ inches was adopted by his father, as it 

 was the original gauge of the railways about Newcastle. The Manches- 

 ter and Liverpool was the brst line in this country worked by locomotive 

 engines. After the Liverpool and Manchester had been established, it was 

 considered imperative that all the lines in that ueighuurbood should be of 

 the same gauge. 



It is difficult to say where a break of gauge in the northern lines could 

 have been made with the least inconvenience, as it involves the questioa 

 where is the line of uiioinium traffic. — When travelling on the Man- 

 chester and Liverpool Railway, before laying the gauge of the Loudoa 

 and Biriniogham, it appeared to witness, as an engine-builder, wheu called 

 upon to construct engiues of greater power, that an increase of three or 

 four inches in the gauge would have assisted him materially, but since, Ihe 

 iin|>ruveiuents in the luechanisni of the engines have rendered that increase 

 quite unnecessary ; they have ample space and to spare. In the arrange- 

 ment of the machinery, which is ihe main question, having reference to 

 the width, the working gear has been much simplified, and the commuai- 

 catiuus in the most receut entsines between the eccentric and the slide 

 valve have been made direct commuuicatioDS ; whereas formerly it was 

 made through the intervention of a series of levers which occupied Ihc 

 width. With refeieuce to the increase of power, the size of the boiler is iu 

 point of fact the only limit to the power, and they have been increased iu 

 length on the narrow gauge; the power is increased by iucreiisiiig iheir 

 length both iu the fire-box and in the tubes ; in fact the power of the engine, 

 supposing the power to be absorbed, may be taken to be directly as the 

 area of the fire-grate or the quantity of fuel contained iu the fire-box, Ne 

 incuuveiiieuce results from leugtheuing the engines to tlieir present extent, 

 and their steadiness is increased ; they are at present 12 feet between the 

 Iruut and hind axles. The iucrease of length between the axles reodeit 



