Plate LXXXI - Waggon and horses
Plate LXXXI represents a painting in a little
anteroom, or passage, of the lupanare. It is but a
slovenly daub in the original, but shows that the
ancients not only had waggons, but that they were, at
least, as well contrived and as neatly made as any now
in use. There is even an opening to permit the wheel to
pass in turning, and the whole is well painted with a
blue body and yellow wheels. The enormous skin in which
the vine is contained in the body of the waggon is
probably new. The dresses of the two attendants are
simple and graceful. |
There is another of the same subject, and nearly a repetition of this, in the obscene chamber of the lupanare ; and they both, in all probability, represented the actual waggon, horses, and servants of the proprietor of the house, who seems to have sold wine contained in leaden vases in the front shop, or thermopolion. The borders are all from Herculaneum, and certainly differ from those of Pompeii, without much improving upon them. The two horses' heads are selected by way of affording, to those who are curious on such subjects, an opportunity of seeing how bridles were put on in Roman times.