THE favourite horse of Alexander, named Lada, was so exquisitely finished in brass, by Myron, that it occasioned one of the most beautiful epigrams in the Greek Anthology. No man ever enjoyed, and more deservedly, a higher reputation. The pages of Pausanias, in particular, are crowded with descriptions of his performances; yet he died in lamentable poverty: and as Petronius emphatically expresses it, he who breathed into his brazen statues almost the human soul, non invenit hæredem,' died not worth a groat. NICIAS Was an Athenian Painter of no common merit. His great performance was Nemea sitting upon a Lion, which, being carried to Rome by Sylla, was afterwards placed in the Senate House. He also painted a Bacchus, which was much admired, and in succeeding times adorned the Temple of Concord at Rome. A HYACINTHUS, found by Augustus at Alexandria, was by him removed to Rome, and was afterwards placed by Tiberius in the temple consecrated to Augustus. Of this picture Augustus was particularly fond. See Pliny. MANY curious anecdotes are related of this artist, which indicate the most intense application to his art, and disregard of money. He would often inquire of his domestics, 'whether he had bathed, or whether he had dined?' THE Great Ptolemy once sent him sixty talents for a picture; but he refused the money, and kept his picture. NICOMACHUS. 6 'We have no such painters in these times,' exclaims Pliny, as those great masters who used but four colours. Apelles, Echion, Melanthius, and Ni comachus.' The Roman friend of art is very lavish in commendation of Nicomachus; and tells us that a picture of the Tyndaridæ, which he left unfinished, was sought after with particular avidity His other works specified by Pliny are : THE RAPE of Proserpine. THE SATYRS endeavouring to carry off Bacchantes. A SCYLLA, afterwards in the Temple of Peace, at Rome. APOLLO. Diana. Cybele, sitting on à Lion. VICTORIA, in a chariot, drawn by four horses. This was in the Capitol. He was the first painter who drew Ulysses with a cap on his head. It is the fate of genius in all ages to be characterized with something of waywardness and eccentricity, which obstructs or pre vents advancement to opulence. Nichomachus also died poor: but he was a truly great and accomplished character. HE one day beheld a stupid person contemplating the celebrated Helen of Zeuxis. 'I see no beauty in this,' said the man. Take my eyes,' said Nichomachus, you will perceive a God DESS. and BIBLIOGRAPHIANA*. THE year following the sale of Mr. West's books, a very curious and valuable collection, chiefly of English literature, * Sale of the late BISHOP HORSLEY'S BOOKS. by Messrs. Leigh and Sotheby. This sale, which has very recently taken place, afforded an opportunity to the lovers of Greek and Latin literature to indulge themselves with the acquisition of many rare and curious articles. Among them, the following may be deserving of particular numeration. was disposed of by auction, by Paterson, who published the Catalogue under the following title: 'BIBLIOTHECA MONASTICA-FLETEWODIANA.' Aristophanis Comedia, Junt. 1525. £. s. d.. 4 0 0 Id. Kusteri, fol. 1710. Fine copy 8 8 0 in 29 vols. uniformly bound fol. 1592 Critici Sacri, 9 tom, folio. 1698 PRIN. Florent. fol. 1488. tathii, 4 tom. fol. Romæ, Homeri Opera omnia Ernesti, copy, 1759 Grævii et Gronovii Thesaurus Antiquit. Roman. et Græcar, Putschii Grammat. Lat. Auct. 12 0 12 12 0 39 7 6 7 7 0 660 34 10 0 60 0 0 11 11 0 35 0 0 4 13 O |