94 A fleeping Cupid, 2 feet 5 inches high. The Lizard may be a device for the name of the sculptor, unless allegorical. 95 A Sarcophagus, 2 feet 3 inches by 1 foot. 96 A baffo relievo Roman repaft, 2 feet by 1 foot 7. 98 Soldiers fighting, 1 foot 11 inches by 2 foot 3. 101 The triumph of Amphytrion, 2 feet by 2 feet The figures executed with amazing expreffion. 104 Boys embracing, 2 feet 3 inches by 1 foot 6. 105 The Herculean games, 2 feet 3 inches by 2 feet. 106 Boys, 2 feet by 1 foot. 107 A Woman and a Child fitting in a square nich, 1 foot 9 inches by 1 foot 7. 108 A Roman Monument with three Bufts, 3 feet 1.0 inches by 2 feet 3. 109 Part of a Roman Monument. 110 Ditto. III Buft of a Roman Head. 112 Buft of a Roman Head. 113 A Roman Bust. 114 A Buft of Fauna. 115 A ditto of Fauns. 116 The Buft of a young Man.. 117 A ditto of Diana. 118 Ditto of a Grecian. 119 Ditto of a Woman cloathed. 120 Ditto of a Philofopher. 121 Philofophy, a Buft. 122 A Buft of Niobe. 123 Ditto of one of her Sons. 124 Ditto of Venus de Medicis. 125 Ditto of a Woman cloathed. 126. A Buft cloathed, wants the Head. 127 Ditto. 127 Ditto. 128 Ditto. 129 Ditto. 130 A Buft naked, head wanting.. 131 Bust of an old Man half naked. 132 Ditto of a Roman. 133 Buft of Hen. VIII, modern. 134 Ditto (modern) of Rob. C.. Pal. Rhen. D. Bav.. 1637, Etat. 17. 135 A Coloffal Head of Apollo.. The Front of this Building is oppofite to the Divinity School, adorned with Corinthian Pillars, and the Statues of Archbishop Sheldon and the Duke of Ormond. It hath a flat roof, compofed of fhort pieces of Timber, continued to a great breadth, without Archwork or Pillar to fupport them, being fuftained only by the fide walls and their own texture, though from Sidewall to Side-wall it is 80 feet over one way, and 70 the other. When properly filled, the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor being feated in the center of the femicircular part, the Noblemen and Doctors on his right and left hand, the Proctors and Curators in their Robes, the Mafters of Arts, Batchelors, and Under-Graduats, in their respective habits and places, together with Strangers of both fexes, it makes a moft auguft appearance. On the North Side is the Statue of Charles II.. Within it is adorned with Paintings, viz. the Portraits, at full length, of the Founder Archbishop Sheldon, the Duke of Ormond, and Sir Chriftopher Wren, the Architect. Likewife a curious Cieling by Streater; of which the following is a DESCRIPTION.. "In "In Imitation of the Theatres of the ancient Greeks and Romans, which were too large to be covered with lead or tile, fo this, by the Painting of the flat roof within, is represented open; and as they ftretched a cordage, from pilafter to pilafter, upon which they ftrained a covering of cloth, to protect the people from the injuries of the weather, fo here is a Cord-moulding gilded, that reaches crofs the house, both in length and breadth, which fupporteth a great reddish Drapery, fuppofed to have covered the roof, but now furled up by the Genii round about the house, towards the wall which discovereth the open air, and maketh way for the Descent of the Arts and Sciences, that are congregated in a circle of clouds, to whofe affembly Truth defcends, as being folicited and implored by them all. For joy of this feftival fome other Genii fport about the clouds, with their Feftoons of flowers and laurels, and prepare their Garlands of laurels and roses, viz. Honour and Pleasure, for the great lovers and students of thofe arts: And that this affembly might be perfectly happy, their great enemies and difturbers, Envy, Rapine, and Brutality, are by the Genii of their oppofite virtues, viz. Prudence, Fortitude, and Eloquence, driven from the fociety, and thrown down head-long from the clouds: The report of the affembly of the one, and the expulfion of the other, being proclaimed through the open and ferene air, by fome other of the Genii, who blowing their antick Trumpets, divide themfelves into the feveral quarters of the world. Thus far in General. More particularly, the circle of figures confift, First of Theology, with her Book of Seven Seals, imploring the affistance of Truth for the unfolding of it. On her left-hand is the Mofaical Law veiled, with the Tables of Stone, to which the points with her Iron Rod. On her right-hand is the Gospel, with the Crofs in one hand, and a Chalice in the other. In the fame divifion, over the Mofaical Law, is Hifto ryǝ ry, holding up her pen, as dedicating it to Truth, and an attending Genius, with feveral fragments of Old Writing, from which the collects her history into her books. 1 On the other fide, near the Gospel, is Divine Poefy, with her harp of David's fashion. In the Triangle on the right-hand of the Gospel, is alfo Logick, in a pofture of arguing; and on the lefthand of the Mofaical Law, is Mufick, with her Antick. Lyre, having a pen in her hand, and a paper of Mufick Notes on her knee, with a Genius on her right-hand, (a little within the partition of Theology) playing on a Flute, being the emblem of ancient music. On the left (but within the partition for Phyfick) Dramatick Poely, with a Vizard, reprefenting Comedy, a bloody Dagger for Tragedy, and the Reed Pipe for Paftoral.. In the fquare, on the right side of the circle, is Law,, with her Ruling Sceptre, accompanied with Records, Patents, and Evidences on the one Side, and on the other with Rhetorick: by thefe is an attending Genius, with the Scales of Justice, and a figure with a Palmbranch, the emblem of reward for virtuous actions i and the Roman Fafces, the marks of Power and Punish ment. Printing, with a Cafe of Letters in one Hand, and a Form ready fet in the other, and by her feveral sheets hanging to dry. On the left fide the circle, oppofite to Theology, in three Squares, are the Mathematical Sciences, depending on Demonftration, as the other on Faith, in the first of which is ftronomy with the Celestial Globe, Geography. with the Terrestial, together with three attending Ge-. nii; having Arithmetick in the fquare on one hand, with a paper of figures; Optics with the Perfpective-Glafs ; Geometry with a pair of Compaffes in her left; and a table with Geometrical figures in it, in her right-hand. And in the fquare on the other hand, Architecture em bracing A bracing the Capital of a Column, with Compaffes, and the Norma or Square lying by her, and a Workman holding another Square in one hand, and a Plumb-Line in the other. In the midft of thefe fquares and triangles (as defcending from above) is the figure of Truth fitting as on a cloud, in one hand holding a Palm Branch (the emblem of victory) in the other the Sun, whofe brightness enlightens the whole circle of figures, and is fo bright, that it feems to hide the face of herfelf to the fpectators below. Over the entrance of the front of the THEATRE, are Three Figures Tumbling down; firft Envy, with her Snaky Hairs, Squint Eyes, Hag's Breaft, pale venomous Complexion, ftrong but ugly Limbs, and riveled Skin, frighted from above by the fight of the Shield of Pallas, with the Gorgon's Head in it, against which she opposes her fnaky Treffes, but her fall is so precipitous, fhe has no command of her arms. Then Rapine, with her fiery Eyes, grinning Teeth, fharp Twangs, her hands imbrued in blood, holding a bloody Dagger in one hand, in the other a burning Flambeau; with these inftruments threatning the deftruction of Learning, and all it's habitations, but the is overcome, and prevented, by a Herculean Genius, or power. Next that is represented brutifh, fcoffing Ignorance, endeavouring to vilify and contemn what the underftands not, which is charmed by a mercurial Genius with his Caduceus." In the Theatre are held the Public Acts called the Comitia, and Enconia, and Lord Crewe's annual Commemoration in June or July of the Benefactors to the University; when the Prizes adjudged to particular Performances are publickly recited. This fuperb Edifice, which juftly deferves to be deemed one of our principal Curiofities, was built by that 1 |
