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»58 History of Art in Antiquity. who have examined the ruins at Persepolis/ Tixier is the only one who pretends having seen vestiges of colour on the bas-reliefs ; but though he is quick to take in things at a glance, he cannot always be relied upon. I have proved it more than once in Asia Fig. 73.— Fnginetlt of KV^enent of doorway. Sui^a. Length, 48 c { width, 48 c. Lonvfc. Drawn by St. Elmc Gaulicr. Minor when, along with MM. Guillaume and Delbet, we came to examine more narrowly monuments described by the baron. In ' TixiBR (Destri/HM, torn, it pp. 188-190) affirms (i) having verified on the dress of several bas-reliefs rosettes lightly drawn with the point, vhich%could be nothing L'lsf but the outline of a tinted ornament applied to the drapery ; (2) of having assured himself, by chemical analysis, that the bas-reliefs stood out on a blue ground, to which ashes soaked in a solution of copper had been applied. He owns, however, that perhaps he went a little far in covering with paint the entire bas-rdief in the restoration he published (Plates CXI«, CXL a, CXI. b). Digitized by Google