Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 1.djvu/373

Painting — Industrial Arts. 343 The objects that we have just described were probably tolerated on account of their characterless appearance ; the form being too small to be easily read, was not deemed prejudicial to the true God ; it was impressed moreover on clay or wax, and awoke no mis- givings in the hearts of the true worshippers of Jehovah. Until the reform initiated by the prophets reached its logical conclusion, tearing up from the roots time-honoured customs and usages, figures and emblems graven on seals appeared doubtless innocuous. Many an Israelite who would have died rather than sacrifice to Moloch or Ashtoreth, selected at a dealer, without a qualm of conscience, a signet having a sphinx or winged disc exquisitely outlined, with which his name and appellations would be asso- ciated ; the former being considered purely decorative. § 6. — Painting. Colour helps with form to give the appearance of life to plastic works ; hence the prophets and their acolytes condemned it on the same lines as sculpture ; and as a natural consequence it may be said to have had no existence. Were data required to prove our assertion, they would be found in the Hebrew language itself, which has no equivalents for painter, painting, to paint. The word chakak used by Ezekiel respecting the images on the walls of the temple, in high favour with the daughters of Judah, signifies "to cut," " to engrave." Colour, implied by the word chakakkin bessassar, was no doubt added to the form, which was raised or sunk to bring out details of dress. As this is the only instance of a mention of this nature in the Old Testament, we may reasonably suppose that it was suggested to the seer by the Assyrian and Chaldaean monuments similarly enriched, which he beheld everywhere around him. 1 The Israelites do not seem to have had a deep sense for colour ; their whole range being confined to white, black, green, and red ; have been called Baaliâthon, but never Baalnaathon. This single example shows the danger of classifying an engraved stone without due consideration or technical knowledge. But whenever a special Syrian god is compounded with a proper name, as " Of Kamosiekhi " (formed with the Moabite Kamos), we need not feel any hesitation in setting down the seal to the particular locality or people where the god was honoured. 1 Ezek. xxiii. 14; Cf. viii. xo. Figures of the same nature are specified, but no indication of colours occurs.