12 
INTRODUCTION. 
the meaning of such a display, for painting 
is an universal language that all countries 
equally understand. “ Painters,” says Browne, 
“ are the visible representers of things, and 
such as by the learned sense of the eye en¬ 
deavour to inform the understanding.” 
When the Israelites were divided into 
twelve tribes, their great lawgiver affixed to 
each a certain emblem or device as a peculiar 
mark, by which they were to be distin¬ 
guished, and these were arranged according to 
the prophetic blessing of the patriarch Jacob. 
The shields of the Greek heroes, described 
by Homer, iEschylus, and Virgil, were no¬ 
thing more than symbolical emblems allusive 
to past exploits or predicted achievements, as 
were also the reverses of their medals and 
coins. 
In the early days of our own history we 
find the rudest symbols were sufficient to 
