Their treatment, however, was extremely artistic, and they invested all their work with great refinement and delicacy of detail. At a later period under subjugation the Roman art development was practically in the hands of Greek designers and craftsmen, and acquired great freedom of expression marked by exquisite workmanship in the Græco-Roman period. _Roman Development_ The details and treatment of ornament developed rapidly in the Roman period, in the variety and forms of the elements employed. The principal exponents were Greek, but the original austere character of expression underwent considerable modification. _The Scroll_ In Roman art the scroll, which constituted the chief decoration of the friezes and panels, was greatly developed and rendered with more freedom and variety of treatment; assuming the form of a growing or climbing stem, bearing flowers and clothed with leaves. A treatment which is fairly consistent with such types as the Vine and other climbing growths in nature. The undulating stem with branching scrolls is prominent, both in friezes and panels; the character of the foliage became more varied, the stiff and formal acanthus leaf being only used in the capitals of columns and in structural features. The version employed in more decorative positions [Illustration: Photo] No. 237. Detail of Roman Frieze, in Carved Stone. [E. Richter. ] exhibited greater freedom in form, attitude and section. Natural types for the sake of variety were used, generally in subordinated positions, and there is occasional evidence of the influence of these in the treatment of the acanthus detail. _Græco-Roman_ The development of art during this period cannot be attributed to native talent, the Romans being content to borrow their art as they did their religion. It was rather due to the opulence of the times, though the practical character of the race resulted in a great advance in architecture. The later Roman, generally termed Græco-Roman, varied from the more robust treatment and reverted somewhat to the earlier Greek manner; tending to delicacy and refinement, but retaining the variety of character and detail. _Byzantine_ The State recognition of Christianity had a great influence on art in that there was a return to symbolism. Various pagan elements associated with the earlier decoration that were unsuitable to the feeling of the time were eliminated. Eastern influence is evident, in not only the architecture but in the treatment which is known as Byzantine, of the foliage, which resembles that of the archaic Greek, the leaves being more stiffly lobed, and severely channelled with V-shaped grooves, in place of the subtle modelling of those of the Roman period. The stem or growth line is comparatively absent, and the prevalence of the circle as a shape or in the arrangement of details is evident. Decoration displays more regard to profile than to variety of relief, which was practically uniform.