Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/655

 lSb'O.] Terra Cotta. 531 TERRA COTTA THE literal meaning of the term "Terra Cotta," [from the Italian,] is "baked earth," which most expressively and simply asserts the nature of a ma- terial that has been known and used for the past two thousand years ; and, in our time is applied to an amazing num- ber of varied purposes. That it was em- ployed by the Romans and Greeks for statuary, bas-reliefs, vases, tiles, and architectural ornaments, ample evidence is found in the numerous valuable col- lections, which are contained in the museums of Europe. Pliny, in an old and well known le- gend, gives the credit of the discovery of the art of modeling in clay to a pot- ter named Dibutades, in Corinth ; but although the tale, as told by Pliny, is very poetical, it is not supported by any proofs On the contrary, we have abundant evidence, that the art was known long before even Corinth was heard of, as it is indisputable, that the Ancient Egyptians used baked clay in forming the small figures, which have the appearance of household gods. That the productions of works of art in this material were also common to Greece, is seen from numerous allusions in Pausanias to different examples in his country ; for instance, a temple at Athens, which contained a number of statues in clay, and another of which the roof was ornamented with similar statues. And, in another place, the re- markable fact is incidentally obtained, that the Athenians were in the habit of having annual exhibitions in public, of the best works of art in clay. Italy also affords numerous and beau- tiful examples, evincing the high stand- ard to which this art has been elevated ; and among the Etrurians and Romans, Terra Cotta decorations were most lav- ishly employed, on their temples, tombs, and other buildings. The best collections of Terra Cotta in Europe, are acknowledged to be those of the British Museum in London. They are of immense and invaluable interest, in the antiquity of their specimens, the high degree of artistic skill which they exhibit, and the evidence which some of the bas-reliefs afford of the occasional imitation, by Roman artists, of subjects drawn from Eg3'ptian sources. The Roj'al Museum at Naples, con- tains statues in this material as large as life, a veiy unusual size for a substance comparatively so fragile as baked clay. The use of terra cotta in statuary, or what is more genei'ally known as Or- namental Terra Cotta ware, has been of late years brought to great perfec- tion ; and forms quite an important branch of art. In America, it has only been practi- cally known for about twenty-five years ; and the rapidity with which it has risen to its present magnitude speaks volumes in favor of the ever-increasing love of the artistic and beautiful ; the cordial support and encouragement given, by the great mass of our people, to the fine arts ; the consolidation of society, and the augmentation of wealth — all of which are the most striking and pre-em- inent characteristics of the present age. It is only at comparatively a very recent date, that Americans began to turn their attention towards, and to feel an interest in, the beantifj'ing of their res- idences and grounds ; and, in fact, to learn the value and importance of ren- dering home attractive and enjoyable. To this end, Terra Cotta ware is spe- cially adapted, from its placing within the reach of almost every one imitations, in this plastic substance, of some of the most exquisite works of ancient art, such as statues, vases, bas-reliefs, &c, for the embellishment of Houses, Lawns, Cemeteries, Public Parks and Buildings.