vi PREFACE TO THIRD SECTION 
the action of acids, which are commonly used 
in cleansing these vases\ they will not even bear 
the application of water ; and being found co- 
vered with dirt, it is very difficult to develop 
the vermilion painting uninjured. Fortunately, 
one of the finest pictures in this style has 
escaped ; and the whole of the design has been 
rendered visible, by carefully scraping the sur- 
face with very sharp knives ; , changing them 
often, so as to preserve an edge as keen as 
possible ^ The subject represented' appears 
to relate to the popular and affecting story of 
the visit paid by Electra to the tomb of her father 
jigamemnon, when she discovers the votive offer- 
ings already left there by her brother Orestes, 
previous to their interview ; a story related 
differently by Euripides and Sophocles, and 
of course, like any other popular tale, liable to 
(1) The generality of the Grecian vases will sustain the highest tem- 
perature of a porcelain furnace, without any alteration in the colours 
upon their surfaces. , 
(2) The whole success of this experiment is due to the patience and 
skill of ONE to whom the author has been before indebted for the embel- 
lishment of his Travels, and to whose taste and talents he owes the design 
whence the Frontispiece to this Volume has been engraved. First, by 
tracing the outline upon the vase itself, to ensure the utmost fidelity; and 
afterwards, by imitating the hue and disposition of the vermilion colour 
with all possible exactness ; a faithful copy has been delineated of an 
Athenian monochromatic picture. 
(3) See the Frontispiece. 
