A painting in the same Museum said to be of the fourth century is equally unsatisfactory to the critic. 1 No mosaics of earlier date than the fourth century are to be found at Rome, nor do these afford material for a fair and impartial judgment. There are indeed but three edifices in Italy that contain mosaics of the fourth cen tury and these arc so damaged that very little of the original remains. Those of the Baptistery built at Rome by Constantine in the fourth century and now called Santa Costanza leave little doubt as to the time when they were executed. Here the more essentially pagan peculiarities of the early centuries were curiously marked. The Saviour was represented in the centre of one of the arched doors, as the ruler of the world, sitting on the orb, in tunic and sandals, and giving the Gospels to one of the apostles, probably S. Peter standing to the left in front of two other figures. 2 Another representation of the Saviour adorns the arch of a second door in the same edifice. He stands and gives a scroll to an old and venerable figure on the left, whilst his right is stretched out in the direction of two apostles probably S. Peter and S. Paul. The words “Dominus pacem dat” indicate the general aim of the Gospel which is to spread peace among all men, whilst a tree on each side of the Saviour and four lambs at his feet further confirm the kindly nature and the steady growth of the faith. In both these mosaics the Saviour’s head is surrounded by a simple nimbus, whilst the apostles have none. In the spandrils of the arches of the cupola are ornaments of vine issuing from vases. Figures of Amor gather the grapes whilst birds flutter amongst the branches, children play musical in struments; and females may be seen amongst the leaves. The Christian and profane are thus commingled as they 1 Originally execut ed in the cata comb of S. Sebastian, it represents the Saviour bolding a scroll and touching the shoulder of one near him whilst other figures are seated around. This painting, semicircu lar in form seems to represent the last supper. 2 Behind S. Peter are two and to the right of the Saviour seven trees.