xvi Proceedings, &c. 



very best merriment the master returns, and is just represented as 

 being an unseen witness of the scene. 



" Phryxus and Helle. — In this picture Phryxus, the son of Atha- 

 mas, is represented in the act of being carried away, with his sister, 

 from the sacrificial altar by the ram with the golden fleece, brought 

 to Tiim by Jupiter. It was from this ram that Helle fell into the 

 sea, and gave her name to the Hellespont. Narrators themselves do 

 not enter much into the manner in which the ram carried brother 

 and sister. It is only mentioned 'a journey through the air.' But the 

 wings which, according to this, must have been introduced in the 

 picture, would have spoiled the whole arrangment, and the painter 

 has therefore preferred letting the ram walk upon or through the 

 waves. The moment is well chosen — Phryxus stretching out his 

 hand to save his sister in the extreme moment before sinking, and 

 is very nearly slipping off. Phryxus, after being safe, sacrifices the 

 ram at Colchis, and suspends the golden fleece in a sacred grove. 

 That gives the origin of the mythos of the Argonauts. 



"Medusa of Pompeii (the plain one). — You will all know very well 

 the narrative of Medusa, one of the monster daughters of Gorgo. 

 She had serpents instead of hair, and her look petrified everything. 

 This head is distinguished by the divided expression of anger break- 

 ing out into violence. 



" Medusa discovered at Stabia? (the colored one). — It is considered 

 by all connoisseurs of art the best description of a Medusa head. It 

 is perfectly consistent with the original character of the Gorgon, 

 which is one of amazement and horror with those various forms of 

 beauty given to her by Grecian art of early ages. The green color 

 of the Salamander about the brown locks of her head is very favor- 

 able to the intended effect, as the pale complexion which contrasts 

 so well with the blue color of the white of the eyes. It is interest- 

 ing to compare this work, which may be considered a masterpiece of 

 Grecian art, with two Medusa heads at Florenze Gallery, by Leonardo 

 da Vinci and Michael Angelo da Caravarri, and it may be said to be 

 certain that the ancients far surpassed the moderns in effecting much 

 by little means. 



" It remains only for me to add that a good part of these remarks 

 is founded on the authority of Professor Ottfried Mueller and 

 Professor Welcker, of Bonn, two of the most eminent explorers of 

 antiquity. 



" Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen — Not being a member yet of your 

 Institute, which I intend and hope shortly to be, I trust you will 

 excuse me for having trespassed so much on your valuable time, for 

 the sake of this fine exhibition. 



"GUSTAV JOACHIMI." 



Dr. Mueller laid upon the table the second number of his " Frag- 

 menta Phytographise Australia?." 

 The Institute then separated. 



