BLACK BASALTES. 333 



The multiplying of copies of fine works in beautiful and durable 

 materials, must obviously nave the same effect in respect to the arts, 

 as the invention of printing has upon literature and the sciences ; 

 by their means the principal productions of both kinds will be for 

 ever preserved, and will effectually prevent the return of ignorant 

 and barbarous ages. 



"Nor have the artists themselves anything to fear from this 

 multiplication of copies. Whatever awakens and keeps alive the 

 attention of the public to the production of the arts and nothing 

 can be more effectual for that purpose than the diffusion of copies of 

 fine works must ultimately be advantageous to the artist who is 

 capable of producing fine originals ; for this general attention, in 

 whatever country it is sufficiently excited, will always produce 

 amateurs who, not contented with copies which every one may pro- 

 cure, will be ambitious of possessing fine originals, that copies from 

 them may be multiplied and diffused to the credit of the possessor, 

 and the emolument as well as credit of the original artist. On 

 these considerations the proprietor has, at a very "considerable 

 expense, extended the subjects of this class, and endeavoured to 

 give thejn all the perfection in his power, and he hopes the articles 

 in the following list will be found not unworthy the notice of those 

 who have been pleased to honour this difficult and expensive under- 

 taking with their generous patronage. A small assortment of the 

 figures is now made in the jasper of two colours, the effect of which 

 is new and pleasing. 



" The proprietor is ambitious of preserving in these materials the 

 distinguished characters of the present times, either by making their 

 lusts in basaltes, or their portraits in bas-relief, in the jasper with 

 coloured grounds, and he begs leave to observe to those who may 

 honour him with models or moulds for this purpose, that if the 

 models be made in clay, they either should be burnt to enable them 

 to bear carriage, or plaster moulds taken from them in their soft 

 state, which will answer equally well ; but that neither clay models 

 nor plasters are to be oiled ; they should be a fifth part larger than 

 the figure required. These models, casts, or moulds may be safely 

 sent from any distance, and they may be returned if desired." 



In this durable material, the "black basaltes," busts 

 of M. Aurelius Antoninus, Lord Chatham, Zeno, Plato, 

 Epicurus, Junius Brutus, Marcus Brutus, Pindar, Homer, 

 Cornelius de Witt, and John de Witt were produced, of the 



