184 ON TASTE IN ORNAMENTAL DESIGN. Part II. 



same periods, in different parts of Greece, and how they in- 

 fluenced those of the Greek colonies in other countries. 



The period when art reached its zenith in Greece was from 

 450 to 350 B.C. It declined from its great perfection rather 

 earlier than 300 u. c. ; and a feeling in favour of high finish 

 and elongated forms had already become perceptible during 

 the age of Alexander. Of this there is evidence in the coins, 

 vases, and various objects of art which remain to us; and it is 

 singularly, though unintentionally, confirmed by the remarks 

 of Pliny on the style of Lysippus and Apelles. Those two great 

 men are reputed to have carried sculpture and painting to the 

 highest point of excellence ; but when we make allowance for 

 the bias of those who bestowed that praise, resulting, as it 

 naturally would, from the taste of the age in which they lived, 

 and when we find in the coins of that period the same value 

 •eet upon high finish, a certain tendency to elongated forms, 

 and the substitution of an elaborate instead of the bold broad 

 treatment in the draperies and hair of the previous century, 

 we perceive how exactly the peculiarities ascribed by Pliny to 

 Lysippus and Apelles accord with the style of works of their 

 era, and how, though thought to indicate perfection, they were 

 in reality fatal symptoms. According to Pliny (xxxiv. 8), Ly- 

 sippus improved sculpture, by marking out the hair more 

 minutely, and by making the heads of statues smaller, and 

 the body more graceful and attenuated than in older times, 

 in order to give them the appearance of greater height ; he 

 was also remarkable for the high finish of his works, regard- 

 ing even the smallest details (in which he was imitated by his 

 son Euthy crates, though he aimed rather at the precision than 

 the elegance of his father) ; and the " gracefulness " attri- 

 buted to the figures in the paintings of Apelles (Pliny xxxv. 

 10), is consistent with the same style of the age of Alexander. 

 It was then that the change gained ground which was 

 hastened on by the false taste and luxury introduced from 



