o 



6 ACCOUNTS, ESTIMATES, &C. OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



A small colleciion of Vases, with black figures on a red ground, chiefly ffom Nola. Of 

 these, the most remarkable are the (bllowing : — 



An amphora, on which are represented two pugilists fighting, inscribed with the name 

 of the potter, Nikosthenes. 



A cylix, on each side of which are represented a merchant vessel pursued by a war 

 galley. In this picture the contrast in build between these two kinds of vessels is very 

 clearly expressed. 



There are also a few Vases with black figures on a while ground, among which may be 

 mentioned an oinoclioe from V'ulci, representing Peleus confiding the young Achilles to the 

 care of the centaur Chiron. 



Period of Finest Art. — This period is well represented in the Biacas Colleciion, which 

 coniaias a^ number of fine specimens of Nolan fabric. Among them the fuUowing may be 

 particularly noticed : — 



'Nolan Amphora. — Red figures. A Victory pourino- a libation on a base with three 

 steps, the uppermost of which is inscribed AKAMANTIS ENIKA <I>YAE : "The tribe 

 Akamantis conquered." A tripod, the prize of a choregic Victory stands on the base. 



This curious inscription is one of the very few extant on fictile vases which refer to an 

 eventof real hie. Published, Panofka, Musee Biacas, PI. i. 



Kantluiros. — Red figures ; on one side is CEdipus consulting the Sphinx, on the reverse 

 Ulysses aiiproaching a female figure, called by Panofka, Leukothea, but probably INausikaa. 

 The name of Ulysses is inscribed over his head. The form of this cup is peculiar. It. is closed 

 at ihe top, with the exception of a hole through which liquid may have been introduced 

 into the body. Published, i'anofka, Musee Biacas, PI. xii. Nola. 



Hijdria. — Red figures. A female figure, inscribed Peitho, standing before a winged 

 youth v.'ho is seated, and over whom is his name, Hiraeios. Peitho appears to be filling an 

 aluhastron with some liquid perfume, p rhaps for the toilet of Aphrodite. Published, iVlusee 

 Biacas, PI. xxii B. Elite des Mon. Ceram. iv., PI. 24 a. Nola. 



Nohn Amphora. — Red figures-; judgment of Paris. Published, Gerhard, Ant. Bildwerke, 

 PI. xxxii. 



Ampliora.-~KiH\ figures; on one side Perseus flying, having slain Medusa, whose 

 decapitiileci body appears on the other side. Near the figure of Perseus the name 

 IIEPSES KAA02. Published, Musee Biacas, PI. xi. Nola. 



Cover of a leliaiie. — Red figures; six Muses approaching a seated female figure. The 

 names of five of the Muses, Polymnia, Kleio, Kalliope, Thaleia, and Euteipe are inscribed 

 near them. '^S'his cover, found at Nola, has been discoloured by being burnt on the funeral 

 pile. Published, Musee Biacas, PI. iv. Elite des Mon. Ceraui. ii., PI. 86 A. 



Cylix. — Red figures ; on both sides is represented the destruction of the family of Niobe 

 by Apollo and Arten.is. These deities are on opposite sides of the cup with their names 

 inscribed ; each is shootirg at a daughter of Niobe with a bow and airow ; in the interior 

 of the cup, Athene gives to Kadmos a stone, wherewith to slay the dragon at the fountain 

 of Dirke; between the figures, KAAiVI . . , part of the name of Kadmos; described in 

 Catalogue of the Durand Collection, No. 19. Fulci. 



Krater. — Red figures; Helios rising from the ocean in a car drawn by winged horses; 

 in front of him are four youthful male figures representing stars setting; tlun Fan on a 

 mountain tip looking back at Aurora pursuing Kephalos ; on the extreme left, the scene is 

 closed by Selene riding on a horse. This beautiful and unique composition is one of the 

 most interesting which have been handed down to us in Fictile art, and may have been 

 derived from the design of some great painter of the time of Phidias. Published, Musee 

 Biacas, Plates xvii. xviii. ; Gerhard, Kleine Schriften, 1860 ; Welcker, Griechische Vasen 

 Gemiilde, PI. ix.; Elite des Mon. Ceiaai. ii. Plates 111, 112; R. Rochette, PI. Ixxiii. 

 Apulia. 



Cylix. — Red figures in a hard archaic style. On one side, the birth of Athene in the 

 presence of Ceres, Aphrodite, and other deities. On the reverse, Theiis seized by Peleus. 

 'Ihis cylix exceeds in size any cup of this shape in the British Museum; it measures 

 1 ft. 3/o of an inch in diameter. Tarquinii. 



Vases of the Period of Decline. — In this third or later period, polychrome designs, 

 gilding, and ornaments in relief were preferred to the simple monocln-ome compositions of 

 the finest period. 



The Biacas Collection is very rich in these later Vases. The following may be specially 

 noted : — 



Amphora. — Red and white figures. Artemis slaying a stag in the presence of Zeus and 

 Apollo. Gerhard, Archaologische Zeitung, 1846, PI. xlvi. S. Agata de Goti. 



Cylix. — Red figures, with ornaments raised in relief, and gilt. On the outside of the cup, 

 two scenes in which Dionysos appears attended by Satyrs and Msenads ; both the inside and 

 outside are encircled with a vine wreath, gilt. This cup is one of the finest specimens extant 

 of the rich and ornate style which came into fashion in the later period of Ceramography. In 



the 



