The Loss of Antiquities

At the close of the fourth century the Christian religion prevailed throughout the Roman empire. But the statues of the gods still bound the people to the religion of their fathers. Hence, in 390 A. D., Theodosius issued his famous order for the entire destruction of "heathen art." Some of it escaped by being hastily buried, or immured in walls, or by being thrown into the Tiber. But much of it was absolutely destroyed. With the downfall of Rome and the successive invasions of barbarians from the north, who knew neither the language of the Romans or the Greeks, all knowledge of the buried treasures of Rome perished. For a thousand years Rome was the prey of the spoiler, until gradually the massive buildings were plundered of every article of use; stones were taken whenever needed, and the richest of wrought marbles were consumed in making lime. But finally came the Renaissance; a revival of the Greek and Roman languages once more made known the civilization of the ancient world. Better times also had come to Rome; as she dug the foundations for her new palaces, she brought to light the long forgotten treasures of Greek sculpture. During three centuries these antiquities have been gathered, and they now constitute the collections of the Vatican, the Capitol, Naples, Paris and London Museums.

Modern sculpture has never attained the eminence of modern painting, yet the works of Michael Angelo and Thorwaldsen rank with those of the best period of Greece. In a manuscript volume of the Vatican Library an account of 3890 works of art in bronze are described as then exhibited in public places. Every bronze found in Rome since the Renaissance bears evidence of having been carefully hidden away. Lanciani tells us that since 1870 the art treasures brought to light by the government have amounted to about 500 statues and busts, at a cost of $1,000,000, and that to find them, 286,000,000 cubic feet of earth have been removed. Let us appreciate these works that have cost so much.--"Art is for those to whom it appeals."