22 EARLY CHRISTIAN ART. Chap. I. lean and recalling the old times of Greece. Is it neces sary again to point out how difficult it was for artists, living on memories of the pagan past, to conceive such a subject as the Baptism of Christ in the form most fitted to satisfy a religious aspiration. The mosaists of Ravenna like those of Rome executed their work with cubes of a large size, but whilst the latter put them together roughly, the former used more care. In the Baptistery of Ravenna the cubes forming outlines were of a warm reddish tint, decisive enough to mark the shape without hardness. The lights were of a brilliant yellow red, the half tints a deeper shade of warm tone, the shadows of a reddish brown. The general effect was a gorgeops sunny glancing colour. — Such were the earliest mosaics of the new Italian capital. Such they are now and may long remain if more care be taken of a work so interesting and so rare. 1 1 As usual the mosaics of the Baptistery have been restored. In the central ‘Baptism’ the head and shoulders and right arm of the figure of the Saviour, the head, shoulders and right arm, the right leg and foot of the Baptist and the cross in his left hand have been repaired, and thus the type and character of the heads may have been altered. And here it may not be useless to give a word of advice to those under whose care monuments like these of Ravenna are placed. It is ludicrous to suppose that resto ration is sufficient if the original cause of the damage remains. The roof of the Baptistery of Ravenna is not water-proof and the rain filters even through the repairs lately made. A new roof is required. Again it might be adviseable when restorations are undertaken to intrust them to skilful hands and not to mere mechanical mosaists, ignorant of design and form, however able they may be in the technical difficulties of their art. Before touching monuments such as these, Italy should possess a school de voted to the study of the charac ter and style of art in various periods. A competent person should be employed to study the mode in which emblems and acces sories were used in different epochs. For there is no doubt that the period in which a monument was erected oradorned maybe detected by the peculiar character of its emblems or accessories; and the use of false ones by restorers pro duces endless deception. Examples can and will be produced to con vince the reader of the evils of the present system. One gentle man of independent fortune in Italy, Baron Mandralisca seems inclined to do his utmost to im prove or encourage honest resto ration. He gave all necessary support to that of the Cefalu mo saics by the Signor Riolo, and has thus done good to Italy. Hopes may be entertained that in Sicily at least a school will be formed which may recommend itself to the fostering care of the Italian