Two Paintings From The Catacombs.

TWO PAINTINGS FROM THE CATACOMBS .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JULY 11 , 18 C 3 .

"We have much pleasure in announcing as an archaeological event , the publication of two paintings from the catacombs at Rome , accompanied by a learned dissertation from the Abbate Arcaugelo Seognamiglio . The first of these ivas discovered by him two years ago ; the second had not before been published in a

form which was sufficiently faithful . "We ( Builder ) , translate from the Monde some observations on the -work . The dissertation proves , first , in a satisfactory manner , that these paintings are found in the cemetery or catacomb of Priseilla the elder . It ivas excavated in the estate of that Eoman lady who lived in

the time of the Apostles , and who , according to Tillemont , was baptised by St . Peter . It is interesting to observe that , among the authorities referred to , the author quotes that of two pilgrims from Salisbury , who came to Eome in the seventh century , ancl who nave both leftiu Latinan account of their journey .

, , The first is entitled , "An Account of the Churches of Eome ; " and the second , " The Holy Places of the Martyrs in the Neighbourhood of Eome . " He also quotes "William of Malmesbury , who wrote ia the eleventh century the " Topography of the Sacred Places of Eome , " contained in his " History of the

Kings of England . " The way into the cemetery of St . Priseilla is now through a staircase to be found in a kind of yard at the back of a farm-house . This staircase is not very ancient ; but it is the only one accessible at present , formerlythere were as many as six which gave access

, to the cemetery , which liiaj * give an idea of its extent . As soon as you enter into it , you are struck at ouce by a special character of its primitive period , namely , the large size of its vaults . The architect who directed its excavation did so in accordance with a method

diflering from that followed in the other catacombs of Eome ; where corridors and narrow passages between two walls are ordinarily found . Here the architect has endeavoured to contrive a succession of chambers or grottos communicating together , and destined to the burial of the dead as well as to the meeting of

the faithful . Having afterwards observed that this first system could not be followed without exposing the cemeta'ry to total ruin , he abanoned it , and adopted the more ordinary one as affording more security . The Christians of the lourtli century , to prevent the inevitable destruction of this parterected

through-, out its extent numerous pillars intended to keep up the whole . As far as the author has been able to ascertain by active researches , there must be four stories of excavations ; one only of which is novv accessible , without extreme fatigue . According to appearancesit may be stated that these excavations

, proceed to vast extent , the precise dimensions of which cannot be determined , on account of the obstacles created by heaps of earth , either left at the time of excavation or brought thither by subsequent accidents . In the part which wc shall visit , the chambers or crypts which have served as chapels are

nuinci'oirs , and adorned with paintings ; the chief ones , even , have their arcades decorated with Greek ornaments of a perfectly pure character , consisting of the roiled acanthus-leaf . The apsis preserves traces

of mosaics , remains of sarcophagi , with figures in a good style ; fragments of inscriptions , generally in fine letters , in which may be read names belonging to ancient Eoman families , are also met with . The Church must have met in Eome , at an early period , with distinguished minds and influential personages ,

to whom she even then gave to understand that the ornaments of . art could not be more nobly employed than in surrounding the remains of her faithful aud martyrs , or in serving as a decoration for her sanctuaries . The loculi ( cavities intended for the reception of

corpses in the thickness of the rock ) are now for the most part without the slabs which closed them , and the corpses which they contained . Enough , however , is still found there to ascertain the mode of burial

used m this cemetery . Tbe bodies were wrapped up in a layer of lime contained between two windingsheets , the one to preserve them from the contact of the lime , the other to keep it close to the body . After having gone through these imposing excavations , you arrive at a crypt which is so fine and rich in ornaments of the best tastethat the name of the

, Greek Chapel has been given to it . It is hollowed out from the live rock in the shape of a Latin cross . On the wall to the right is to be found a cornice with stucco consuls of the greatest elegance . In the upperpart , in the middle of the vault , was bored a lighthole , now obstructed . The ground of this vault is

painted red ; from the four corners elegant garlands set out . in the midst of which mav be seen a figure draped in a white pallium . The finish of all these details displays a specially skilful execution . On one side , the transverse nave , or transept , ends in a square plan ; the present entrance is at that point . At the

other end , which is in an apsidal form , may be read two inscriptions , in Greek characters , painted in red on the wall . The part of the crypt facing the ancient doorway is also curved iu the form of an apse . Below

it , on the two side walls , two large frescoes have been painted . On the right is a Eoman lady , with her arms extended in the attitude of prayer ; by her side two personages are extending their hands towards her . A young man in a pallium seems to be speaking to her ; behind may be seen a pavilion . Opposite , the

same lady re-appears with two young men , who are placing a crown on her head ; then comes a woman with her head uncovered , and a youth holding , like her , his arms extended . On considering alternatively those paintings , they would almost be believed to be by the same artist as the JSTosze Aldobrantlinifrom

, their being so much alike in the colouring , tho draperies , and the freedom and correctness of the drawing . The author of this analysis had the good fortune , last year , of meeting the Abbate Scognamigiio , while he was doing the honours of his dear catacomb to the most worthy of appreciafcorsto Mgr . Gerbefc

, , the illustrious Bishop of Perpignan , who has so well made known to us Christian Eome . It is to be remarked that these paintings have so much expression and life that the hand of a Eaffaelle might bethought to be found again in them at an interval of fourteen

centuries . The same crypt contains also other frescoes , more or less damngeel , the subjects of which are " The Adoration of the Magi , " " Moses striking the Rock , ' , and the . cured " Paralytic carrying his bed away . " But the two paintings now published have a special