Collotype plate from a photograph by Brogi. Probably a copy of one of the great pictures of the old Greek masters, Timanthes, about 400 B.C. If so it is the most important example of early painting in existence. The psychological motive of the composition is a study of grief. Calchas the prophet is grieved with foreknowledge, Ajax and Odysseus are sorrowfully obeying commands which they do not understand. Iphigenia herself shows the fortitude of a martyr, but Agamemnon’s grief, since he was her father, is too great for a Greek to exhibit. Hence his face is hidden. Above appears the deer which Artemis allowed to be substituted for the maiden 89 HOUSE OF LIVIA: INTERIOR DECORATION (COLOUR-PLATE) 300 Reproduced by permission of the German Institute of Archæology, from Luckenbach’s “Kunst und Geschichte” (grosse Ausgabe, Teil I, Tafel IV), by arrangement with R. Oldenbourg, Munich 90 THE ALDOBRANDINI MARRIAGE, VATICAN, ROME 302 From a photograph by Brogi of the fresco now in the Vatican. In the centre is the veiled bride, Venus is encouraging her, Charis is compounding sweet essences to add to her beauty, Hymen waits on the bride’s left seated on the threshold stone, outside is a group of three maidens, a musician, a crowned bridesmaid, and a tire-woman. At the other side the bride’s family is seen. This is without question the most charming example of ancient painting 91 BRONZE SACRIFICIAL TRIPOD 304 From a photograph by Brogi of the original, discovered at Pompeii, now in the National Museum, Naples. An example of Hellenic metal-work of the Augustan age 92 MITHRAS AND BULL 308 From a photograph by Mansell & Co. of the statue in the British Museum. Represents the Mithraic sacrament of Taurobolium in which the worshippers received new life by bathing in the blood of a bull. Mithras wears a Phrygian cap, for the Mithraic religion, though it arose in Persia, only began to form artistic expression when it passed through the art region of Asia Minor. This motive constantly recurs in the monuments of the second and third century all over Europe 93 MAUSOLEUM OF PLACIDIA, RAVENNA 312 From a photograph by Alinari. This little church which contains the tombs of the Emperor Honorius, her brother, and of Constantius III., her husband, as well as a sarcophagus of the Empress in marble, formerly adorned with plaques of silver, is eloquent of the shrunken glory of the Western Empire in the fifth century. It was founded about A.D. 440. It is built in the form of a Latin cross, and is only 49 ft. long, 41 ft. broad. The interior contains beautiful mosaics. Ravenna contains many other relics of this period when it was the seat of the Roman government 94 THE BARBERINI IVORY 314