58 Prof. Hausmann on the Composition of the Ancient 
In vases whose figures are of a black colour, the outlines have 
first been drawn with a pencil, and the minor parts of the fi- 
gures then filled up with paint ; a mode of painting which is 
plainly discernible, for example, in some Locrian vases * * * § . In 
vases which have red figures upon a black ground, a similar 
mode of painting is often observable. In them, the outlines of 
the figures are covered with diluted paint, and the filling up of 
the black ground is then perfected *f\ In some vases, the ground- 
colour does not completely touch these outlines ; in some others, 
the ground-colour passes over the outlines here and there ; 
sometimes connections of the outlines are observed J ; defects 
which clearly show the mode of painting. It may also be re- 
cognised by the circumstance, that the black colour is less intense 
in the places where the outlines have afterwards been covered by 
it than in the other parts ||. According to the observation of 
Meyer , a first shading of the paintings with a red pigment, is 
rarely seen §. In some vases, it is obvious, that the outlines of 
the figures have been cut out, with some sharp instrument. In- 
stead of cut lines, dotted ones sometimes occur Jorio has 
observed, that, in some vases, it is evident that the figures have 
been first painted naked, and afterwards covered with the dra- 
pery ; — a mode of painting which was much in use even in the 
time of Raphael. 
In vases with red figures upon a black ground, the internal 
delineation of some parts of the figures being of a deep colour, 
have undoubtedly been made last. After the laying on of the 
black paint has been executed, other colours have sometimes 
been added to the paintings, as has already been noticed above. 
All the paintings of the ancient Grecian vases have been done 
with a very fine pencil. If the black varnish has, in reality, 
been made in the manner above described, the greatest quick- 
ness has been requisite in applying it, according to the experi- 
ments described by me ; and, therefore, the nicest address in the 
workman. A blunder committed, if it could not be covered 
* Rossi , First Letter to M. Millingen. Peint. Ant;, p, Iv. Jorio . loc, cit. 
•j* lor io, loc. cit., p. 13. 
X Rossi , loc. cit., p. vi. [| Boet tiger's Vasengemalden, i. p. 58. 
§ Rossi , loc. cit., p. iv. Sul Met. d. Ant. nel dipingere i. Vasi, p. 10, 
