Page:The Journal of Classical and Sacred Philology, Volume 1, 1854.djvu/381

On the Classical Authorities for Ancient Art. 371 authorities with too great servility, too much like a schoolboy. I doubt whether he had any broad and intelligent views on the origin and development of Hellenic architecture : of the sub- limity of the Doric order he seems to have no conception : of the essential, characteristic differences between it and the Ionic or the Corinthian his ideas are vague and confused when they are not utterly false. When we go to him for information on any particular point, we do not find that he has been at pains to discriminate the different styles of architecture which prevailed in each of the orders at different ages. Still less does he appear to have any sort of perception of the fact that architecture, ancient architecture, was but a stem on which the sister arts put forth their buds and blossoms. So that, on the whole, if, as Sir Henry Wotton styles himself in a kindred work, Vitruvius was but u a gatherer and disposer of other men's stuff," we are forced to allow that this is " his best value :" above all must we regret with the accomplished Knight, that " it was in truth an unhappi- ness to express himself so ill, especially writing as he did in a season of the ablest pens." Thus have I indicated, to the best of my ability, the more special sources of the " testimonia litterarum," on the history of ancient art. I shall get but sorry praise for my labours, if my reader is only half as conscious of their deficiencies I say it unfeignedly as I am 'myself. These testimonies lie scattered indeed over the whole range of ancient literature, as will appear from the sequel of our enquiries, and he would render good service and true to the history of art, who should collect together from classical authors and arrange in due sort all the passages, that bear indirectly on the theory, the practice, and the history of ancient art. I believe the charm and value of Zoega's works rest chiefly on this, that it was on such a solid foundation, such a thorough sifting of the " testimonia litterarum," in the widest sense, that this eminent man erected his noble and lasting super- structure of archaeological lore. The like intention was professed, and I have little doubt executed, by Winckelmann. A far hum- bler task has here been mine : a task, for the irksomeness of which I shall be amply repaid, if I should succeed in calling attention to a department of ancient literature, which I believe to have been more extensive than is commonly supposed, and to be deserving of higher appreciation than it has hitherto met with