ing the heads of celebrated persons, their deities, and their idols; the fawn-colored variety, which is neither yellow nor red, was the highest in value. Both onyx and sardonyx were purchased in Arabia and the Indies, and the harder the stones and finer the grain, the more valuable they were for the purpose of cutting. The title of Oriental onyx was always given to -the finest qualities of the stones, regardless of the locality from whence they were brought.
The Imperial Library at Paris possesses some of the most antique cameos and intaglios of onyx, such as Germani-cus, Marcus Aurelius, Faustina, and Tiberius; the dreadful Jupiter is an onyx in two layers; Venus on a marine bull, surrounded by cupids, are personifications of the highest' perfection in the art.
The superb fragment existing in Rome, and representing Antilochus announcing to Achilles the death of Patrocles, is another master-piece; the cameo has a, black ground, with a white layer above, and the expression of grief on the three faces has secured to this cameo the decided supremacy of the ancient over the modern art.
The bowl of Capo di Monte, in the Royal Museum of Naples, and the great cameo of Alexander and Olympia, belong to Mr. Bracciano, at Naples.
The French Museum contained the great cameo of An-tonius and Faustina, engraved in different colors, but not parallel lines, it is not inferior to any other: the ground, which is of agate of brownish color, is Antonius, and above, in a white layer, is the pleasant figure of Faustina, whose drapery and hair ornaments are exceedingly well executed in a lilac color.
The sardonyx is also called sarde, and if of a dark sable color, was preferred by the ancients for cutting intaglios.
Mars and Venus when surprised by the gods, is executed 13
