Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume I.djvu/269

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[257]

A female antique bust; unknown. The front hair thrown back carelessly and gracefully, and twisted up in a small roll at the back of the head; the left breast is bare, and the robe fastened over the right shoulder by a row of four fibulæ. There is much grace in the fashion of the dress, as well as beauty in the workmanship.—Brutus, the assassin of Cæsar; a full-length noble antique, naked figure. The face extremely thin; the expression of countenance penetrating and severe, but "more in sorrow than in anger." He grasps in his left hand the fatal dagger by the blow of which he sacrificed private friendship at the altar of public good. The statue stands upon an ancient circular altar.—A sitting Muse, antique; the drapery of which is very fine; a square antique altar supports her.

A beautiful naked Venus, antique; of the same delicate workmanship, inimitable grace, and scientific proportions, as the celebrated statue de Medici. It is, indeed, the jewel of this collection; and said to have been bought at so high a price as induced Mr. Weddell to conceal from his friends the enormous expence in which this indulgence of his favourite propensity involved him. At her left side is the trunk of a tree, (for a supporter) and Cupid leaning upon it; fruits and flowers of the most admirable sculpture entwine the trunk, which is crowned