PORTLAND vase, a celebrated funeral vase, which was long in the possession of the Raberini 6anily ; but which was some tears since purchased for 1000 guineas by the Duke of Portland, from whom it has derived its present name. Its height is about ten inches, and its diameter, where broadest, six. There are a variety of figures upon it, of most exquisite workmanship, in has relief, of white opaque glass, raised on a ground of deep blue glass, which appears black, except when held against the light. It appears to have been the work of many years, and • there are antiquarians who date its pro duction several centuries before the Christian era; since, as has been said, sculpture was declining in excellence in the time of Alexander the Great. Re specting the purpose of this vase, and what the figures on it were meant to represent, there have been a variety of conjectures. 'We shall, therefore, give a short account of the several figures, without noticing any of the theories or conjectures that have been made about them. In one compartment three ex quisite figures are placed oit a ruined column, the capital of which is fallen, and lies at their feet among other dis jointed stones: they sit under a tree on loose piles of stone. The middle figure is a female, in a reclining and dying at titude, with an inverted torch in her left hand, the elbow of which supports her as she sinks, while the right hand is raised and thrown over her drooping head. The figure on her right hand is a man, and that on the left a woman, both supporting themselves on their arms, and apparently thinking intensely. Their backs are to the dying figure, and their faces are turned to her, but without an attempt to assist her. On another com
partment of the vayie is a figure coming through a portal, and going down with great timidity into a darker region, where be is received by a beautiful female, who stretches forth her hand to help : between her knees is a large and playful serpent. She sits with her feet towards an aged figure, having one foot sunk into the earth, and the other raised on a co lumn, with his chin resting on his hand. Above the female figure is a Cupid pre ceding the first figure, and beckoning him to advance. This first figure holds a cloak or garment, which he seems anxious to bring with him, hut which ad heres to the side of the portal through which he has pissed. In this compart ment there are two trees, one of which bends over the female figure, and the other over the aged one. On die bottom of the vase there is another figure, on a larger scale than the one we have already mentioned, but not so well finished nor so elevated. This figure points with its finger to its mouth. The dress appears to be curious and cumbersome, and above there is the foliage of a tree. On the head of the figure there is a Phrygian cap ; it is not easy to say whether this figure be male or female. On the han dles of the vase are represented two aged heads, with the ears of a quadruped, and from the middle of the forehead rises a kind of tree without leaves : these figures are, in all probability, mere orna ments, and have no connection with the rest of the figures, or the story repre sented on the vase.