white ceiling. It is an exact copy both in size and decoration, of a
room in the House of the Bronzes at Pompeii, called _la stanza nera_.
Facing the door is a square picture representing a “Sacrifice to
Minerva” (engraved in Mus. Bor., vol. xiii., tav. 8). In the centre a
round shield--the Argolic buckler--with serpent painted on it, mounted
on a square pedestal; above this appears a helmet placed on the top of a
square pillar; a winged Cupid seems to be adjusting the shield; in front
of the pedestal is a smaller circular altar, and Psyche with butterfly
wings, clothed in yellow and pink, stands on the left, as if about to
cast incense upon the altar. On the other side a Cupid, with blue wings
of the same peculiar curve observable in the Marlborough gem,
representing the Marriage of Cupid and Psyche, brings a white lamb to
the altar for sacrifice. Among the arabesques to the right and left of
this picture are graceful vases. Half doors of a light wooden
construction may be observed, and a curious method of displaying
pictures is shown here; they are represented upon the wall very much
sloped forward and with folding shutters to them. (See Malkin’s Pompeii,
vol. ii., p. 123.) The arabesques at each end of this cubiculum are
especially beautiful. They have been wonderfully copied in Gruner’s
specimens of Ornamental Art, the size of the originals. The effect of
their rich colours upon a perfectly black ground is remarkable,
contributing to increase the apparent size of the room very
considerably. Few at first sight would imagine this little apartment to
measure only 22 feet 9 inches by 6 feet 9 inches. The window openings to
the atrium have been explained at page 44.