VOL. XLIV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 363 



Painter at Bath, giving a short Account of some Antique Pictures found in 

 the Ruins of Herculaneum at Portici, near Naples. N° 484, p. 567. 

 This city was overthrown and swallowed up by an earthquake near 17 00 years 

 since. Some of the most remarkable curiosities we saw, were, 



1. A picture of about 5 feet long, and 4 feet wide, representing the educa- 

 tion of Achilles, by his master Chiron the Centaur. The figures are about half 

 as large as the life. That of Achilles is standing in a noble action, and is seen 

 in front, as the principal object of the picture. He seems to hearken with great 

 attention to, and is looking steadily on the centaur, who is seen almost in a side 

 view. The figures are both finely coloured, and well drawn; but that of the 

 young man most exquisitely so. 



2. Next to this is a picture of about 3^ feet high, and narrow, in which is a 

 woman sacrificing. The figure is about 2 feet high. This picture seems to 

 have been taken out of some compartment of ornaments. 



3. Next to this is a broken piece, representing the judgment of Paris. The 

 figures are about the same size as that last mentioned. They are not entire; the 

 bottom part being broken ofF about the knees. This is also a very fine picture; 

 but it is impossible to judge of all its beauties, as it is extremely changed and 

 decayed; which is quite contrary to all the others, in particular to that of Chiron 

 and Achilles; which is in a manner as fresh as if it had been but just painted. 



4. The next is a fine picture of the story of Virginia. The figures are rather 

 larger than those abovementioned. The characters and expressions of the heads 

 are admirable. That of Appius gives a just idea of the furious transports in 

 which the artist designed to describe him. Virginia is weeping. In short, all the 

 figures are finely disposed, and the characters well adapted to the subject. 



5. Two large pictures were in a nich in a basilica, about 5 or 6 feet high. 

 The first represents Theseus victorious over the Minotaur. He is standing in a 

 free and fine posture; one foot is on the head of the Minotaur. But what 

 seemed odd, was the figure of that monster itself, which I had always seen dif- 

 ferently represented ; for in this picture the head only represents that of a bull, 

 which is joined to the body of a man. Several little Genii, or Cupids, as we call 

 them, all seem impatient to show their respect to their deliverer; one kisses his 

 hand, another clasps round his leg, and several others are in different attitudes of 

 gratitude. The figures are almost as large as small life. 



6. The other picture represents Hercules and the goddess of nature. The 

 figure of Hercules is standing, seen in a side view, reposing on his club ; some- 

 thing like the statue in the Farnese palace at Rome. There is a Victory crowning 

 the hero, and the goddess is sitting before him, and seems to applaud and thank 

 him for his labours. There are numbers of symbolical figures besides in this 

 picture. Behind the goddess is a Satyr, and at Hercules's feet a boy sucking a 



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