FRENCH SCHOOL. ****** SUBLEYRAS, cooco FRENCH MUSEUM. DOE CHRIST SITTING AT MEAT IN THE HOUSE OF SIMON. This is the same subject as nos. 406, and 662 : it is unnecessary to repeat what was there said, of this passage in the life of Christ; we shall merely add, that the repast took place on the day on which the widow of Nain's son was raised from the dead; which sufficiently explains the conduct of the Jews, in feasting one who wrought miracles in their behalf, though he often opposed their creed. Among the persons who, in the gospel, and in Jewish history, are called Simon, the one here in question is distinguished by the epithet of Simon the Pharisee. Subleyras went to Rome in 1728, and painted this picture soon after his arrival, for the chapter of St. John de Lateran, of Asti in Piedmont. It is now in the Paris Museum, together with the small sketch, which served for his reception by the Academy of St. Luke. An etching of this picture was made by the author himself, at Rome; but he printed only a small number of proofs; a hundred additional copies were struck off in 1787. Width 21 feet 3 inches; height 6 feet 10 inches. SCULPTURE. ..........` `ANTIQUE. **** MUSÉE FRANÇAIS BACCHANALE, SUR LE VASE BORGHESE. Ce grand et magnifique vase de marbre blanc, désigné sous le nom de marbre pentélique, est aussi remarquable par la beauté de sa forme que par le bas-relief dont il est décoré. Quoiqu'il se trouve ici coupé en deux, il est facile de sentir que c'est une seule et même composition qui entoure le vase dans son entier, et qui représente Bacchus calme au milieu de l'ivresse de ses suivants. Il paraît prendre plaisir à écouter une bacchante qui joue de la lyre. Près d'eux un faune, dans une attitude forcée, tient un thyrse sur son épaule, il paraît en avoir laissé tombé un autre avec lequel se joue la panthère couchée près du dieu des vendanges. A la suite de ce faune, un autre, armé aussi d'un thyrse, soutient le vieux Sylène, qui cherche à ramasser un vase, que son ivresse a fait échapper de sa main. Une bacchante le précède en jouant des crotales, tandis qu'un faune joue de la double flûte. Plus loin un autre faune semble vouloir retenir une bacchante qui est à sa droite, et celle qui est près de Bacchus paraît se tourner vers lui pour l'entraîner. Ce vase, connu sous le nom de vase Borghese est aussi désigné sous le nom de Médicis, parce qu'il a la même forme, mais on y voit des mascarons en place d'anses. Il servit autrefois à orner les jardins de Salluste, et se voit maintenant au Musée français. Haut., 5 pieds 5 pouces. SCULPTURE. FRENCH MUSEUM. BACCHANALS, ON THE BORGHESE VASE. This large, magnificient vase of white, Pentelic marble, is equally remarkable for the beauty of its form, and the basrelief that adorns it. Though the sculpture is here cut in two, it is easily seen to form one composition; which occupies the whole circumference of the vase, and represents Bacchus, sober amid his intoxicated followers. He appears to be listening with pleasure to a Bacchante, playing on the lyre. Near them is a Faun, in a forced attitude, supporting a thyrsus on his shoulder: with another, which he appears to have let fall, a panther, couched near the God of the Vintage, is playing. A second Faun, also armed with the thyrsus succeeds, supporting old Silenus; who is endeavouring to pick up a cup that has escaped from his hand. A Bacchante goes before him, playing on a species of castanets (crotalum ); with a Faun, playing, on the doubleflute. A little farther on, another Faun seems to be holding back a Bacchante; while the Bacchante near the God, as if turning towards him, to draw him on. appears This vase, which is known by the name of the Borghese vase, is also sometimes designated by that of the Medici vase, which it resembles in form, though it has heads.in place of handles it anciently adorned the gardens of Sallust, and is now in the French Museum. : Height, 5 feet 9 inches. |