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hree Rhodian sculptors； called Agesander； Polydore； and Athenodorus； and was found in the thermae of Titus Vespasian； still supposing it to be the true antique。 As for the torso； or mutilated trunk of a statue； which is called the school of Michael Angelo； I had not time to consider it attentively； nor taste enough to perceive its beauties at first sight。 The famous horses on Monte Cavallo； before the pope's palace； which are said to have been made in emulation； by Phidias and Praxiteles； I have seen； and likewise those in the front of the Capitol； with the statues of Castor and Pollux； but what pleased me infinitely more than all of them together； is the equestrian statue of Corinthian brass； standing in the middle of this Piazza （I mean at the Capitol） said to represent the emperor Marcus Aurelius。 Others suppose it was intended for Lucius Verus； a third set of antiquaries contend for Lucius Septimius Severus； and a fourth； for Constantine； because it stood in the Piazza of the Lateran palace； built by that emperor； from whence pope Paul III。 caused it to be removed to the Capitol。 I considered the trophy of Marius as a very curious piece of sculpture； and admired the two sphinxes at the bottom of the stairs leading to this Piazza； as the only good specimens of design I have ever seen from Aegypt： for the two idols of that country； which stand in the ground floor of the Musaeum of the Capitol； and indeed all the Aegyptian statues in the Camera Aegyptiaca of this very building； are such monstrous misrepresentations of nature； that they never could have obtained a place among the statues of Rome； except as curiosities of foreign superstition； or on account of the materials； as they are generally of basaltes； porphyry； or oriental granite。
At the farther end of the court of this Musaeum； fronting the entrance； is a handsome fountain； with the statue of a river…god reclining on his urn； this is no other than the famous Marforio； so called from its having been found in Martis Fore。 It is remarkable only as being the conveyance of the answers to the satires which are found pasted upon Pasquin； another mutilated statue； standing at the corner of a street。
The marble coffin； supposed to have contained the ashes of Alexander Severus； which we find in one of these apartments； is a curious antique； valuable for its sculpture in basso relievo； especially for the figures on the cover； representilig that emperor and his mother Julia Mammea。
I was sorry I had not time to consider the antient plan of Rome； disposed in six classes； on the stair…case of this Musaeum； which was brought hither from a temple that stood in the Forum Boarium； now called Campo vaccine。
It would be ridiculous in me to enter into a detail of the vast collection of marbles； basso relievos； inscriptions； urns； busts； and statues； which are placed in the upper apartments of this edifice。 I saw them but once； and then I was struck with the following particulars。 A bacchanalian drunk； a Jupiter and Leda； at least equal to that in the gallery at Florence； an old praesica； or hired mourner； very much resembling those wrinkled hags still employed in Ireland； and in the Highlands of Scotland； to sing the coronach at funerals； in praise of the deceased； the famous Antinous； an elegant figure； which Pousin studied as canon or rule of symmetry； the two fauns； and above all the mirmillone； or dying gladiator； the attitude of the body； the expression of the countenance； the elegance of the limbs； and the swelling of the muscles； in this statue； are universally admired； but the execution of the back is incredibly delicate。 The course of the muscles called longissimi dorsi； are so naturally marked and tenderly executed； that the marble actually emulates the softness of the flesh； and you may count all the spines of the vertebrae； raising up the skin as in the living body； yet this statue； with all its merit； seems inferior to the celebrated dying gladiator of Ctesilas； as described by Pliny； who says the expression of it was such； as appears altogether incredible。 In the court； on the opposite side of the Capitol； there is an admirable statue of a lion devouring an horse； which was found by the gate of Ostia； near the pyramid of Caius Cestius； and here on the left hand； under a colonade； is what they call the Columna Rostrata； erected in honour of Caius Duilius； who first triumphed over the Carthaginians by sea。 But this is a modern pillar； with the old inscription； which is so defaced as not to be legible。 Among the pictures in the gallery and saloon above； what pleased me most was the Bacchus and Ariadne of Guido Rheni； and the wolf suckling Romulus and Remus； by Rubens。 The court of the Palazzo Farnese is surrounded with antique statues； among which the most celebrated are； the Flora； with a most delicate drapery； the gladiator； with a dead boy over his shoulder； the Hercules； with the spoils of the Nemean lion； but that which the connoisseurs justly esteem above all the rest is Hercules； by Glycon； which you know as well as I do； by the great reputation it has acquired。 This admirable statue having been found without the legs； these were supplied by Gulielmo de la Porta so happily； that when afterwards the original limbs were discovered； Michael Angelo preferred those of the modern artist； both in grace and proportion； and they have been retained accordingly。 In a little house； or shed； behind the court； is preserved the wonderful group of Dirce； commonly called the Toro Farnese； which was brought hither from the thermae Caracallae。 There is such spirit； ferocity； and indignant resistance expressed in the bull； to whose horns Dirce is tied by the hair； that I have never seen anything like it； either upon canvass； or in stone。 The statues of the two brothers endeavouring to throw him into the sea are beautiful figures； finely contrasted； and the rope； which one of them holds in a sort of loose coil； is so surprisingly chizzelled； that one can hardly believe it is of stone。 As for Dirce herself； she seems to be but a subaltern character； there is a dog upon his hind legs barking at the bull； which is much admired。 This amazing groupe was cut out of one stone； by Appollonius and Tauriscus； two sculptors of Rhodes； and is mentioned by Pliny in the thirty… sixth book of his Natural History。 All the precious monuments of art； which have come down to us from antiquity； are the productions of Greek artists。 The Romans had taste enough to admire the arts of Greece； as plainly appears by the great collections they made of their statues and pictures； as well as by adopting their architecture and musick： but I do not remember to have read of any Roman who made a great figure either as a painter or a statuary。 It is not enough to say those professions were not honourable in Rome； because painting； sculpture； and musick； even rhetoric； physic； and philosophy were practised and taught by slaves。 The arts were always honoured and revered at Rome； even when the professors of them happened to be slaves by the accidents and iniquity of fortune。 The business of painting and statuary