70 
MEMOIR OF PLINY. 
“ In Italy the art of painting was grown to some 
perfection before the time of Tarquinius Priscns, 
King of Rome ; for proofe whereof, extant their be, 
at this day to be seen at Ardea, witliin the temples 
there, antique pictures, and indeed more ancient 
than the city of Rome; and no pictures, I assure 
you, came euer to my sight which I wonder so much 
at, namely, that they should continue so long fresh, 
and as if but newly made, considering the places 
where they be are so ruinat and vncouered ouer 
head. At Ctere there also continue certaine pictures, 
of greater antiquity than those which I have named ; 
and, verily, whoever shall view and peruse the rare 
workmanship therein, will confesse that no art in the 
world grew sooner to the height of absolute perfec- 
tion than it, considering that during the state of 
Troy no man knew what painting was. Amongst the 
Romanes it grew betimes into reputation, as may he 
seen by the Fabii, a most noble and honourable house 
in Rome, who, from this science, were symamed Pic- 
tores, i. e. the Painters, 450 yeares after the founda- 
tion of our city. Next after this, the workmanship 
of Pacuvius the poet was highly esteemed, and gaue 
mucli credit to the art. But the principall credit 
that painters attaint! vnto at Rome was by the means 
of M. Valerius Maximus, who was the first that pro- 
posed to the view of all the world, one picture in a 
table wherein lie caused to be painted that battel in 
Sicily wherein himselfe had defeated the Carthagi- 
nians and King Hiero. Lastly, in the publicke plains 
