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'YikLH«¥lMWEI^ffirY- ¦ ILIII3ISJ&mr •

From the
COLLECTION OF OXFORD BOOKS
made by
FALCONER MADAN
Bodley's Librarian

DESCRIPTION

OF THE

PAINTING

IN THE

THEATRE.

OXFORD,
Printed for John Bignell. 1780;

( 3 )

A DESCRIPTION, &c.
THIS Theatre, in Form almoft of
a Roman D, only longer iq Proportion
from Right to Left, on the Outfide is
adorned with Sculpture ; particularly* the Statue
of Charles II. the old Duke of Ormond, aqd
Arch-bifhop Sheldon -, done by Chair. Within
with Painting, viz. the Portraits, at full Length,
of the Founder Arch-bifliop Sheldon, the fame
Duke of Ormond, and Sir Chrifiopher Wren the
Architect : Likewife a curious Cielihg ; (done
by Straiter) of which the following is a De-
fcription. In Imitation of the Theatres of the antient
Greeks and Romans, which were too large to
be covered with Lead or Tile, fo this, by the
Painting of the flat Roof within is reprefented
open; and as they ftretched a Cordage from
Pilafter to Pilafter, upon which they ftrained a
Covering of Cloth, to protect the People from
the Injuries of the Weather,, fo here is a Cord-
moulding gilded, and reaches crofs the Room,
both in Length and Breadth, which fupporteth
a great reddifh Drapery, fuppofed to have co
vered the Roof, but now furled up by the Genii
round about the Room, towards the Wall, which
difcovereth the open Air, and maketh Way for
the Defcent of the Arts and Sciences, that are
congregated in a Circle of Clouds, to whofe Af-
fembly

( 4 )
fembly Truth defcends, as being follicited and
implored by them all.
For Joy of this Feftival fome other Genii
fport about the Clouds, with their Feftoons
of Flowers of Laurels, and prepare their Gar
lands of Laurels and Rofes, viz. Honour and
Fleafure, for the great Lovers and Students of
thofe Arts : And that this AfTembly might be
perfectly happy, their great Enemies and Dif-
turbers, Envy, Rapine, and Brutality, are by
the Genii of their oppofite Virtues, viz. Pru
dence, Fortitude, and Eloquence, driven from the
Society, and thrown down Head-long from the
Clouds : The Report of the AfTembly of the
one, and the Expulfion of the other, being pro
claimed through the open and ferene Air, by
fome other of the Genii, who blowing their an-
tick Trumpets, divide themfelves into the feveral
Quarters of the World.

Hitherto in Grofs.
More particularly the Circle of Figures con-
fid, Firft of Theology, with her Book of Seven
Seals, imploring the Affiftance of Truth for the
unfolding of it.
On her Left-hand is the Mofaical Law veiled,
with the Tables of Stone, to which fhe points
with her Iron Rod.
On her Right-hand is the Gojpel, with the
Crofs in one Hand, and a Chalice in the other. In

( s >
In the fame Divifion, over the Jkfofaical Law,
is Hiftory, holding up her Pen, as dedicating it
to Truth, and an attending Genius, with feveral
Fragments of Old Writings, from which fhe col
lects her Hiftory into her Book.
On the other Side, near the Go/pel, is Divine
Poefy, with her Harp of David's Fafhion.
In the Triangle on the Right Hand of the
Go/pel, is alfo Logick, in a Pofture of arguing;
and on the Left-hand of the Mofaical Law,
is Mufick, with her Antick Lyre, having a Pen
in her Hand, and a Paper of Mufick Notes on
her Knee, with a Genius on her Right-hand, (a
little within the Partition of Theology) playing
on a Flute, being the Emblem of antient Mu-*
fick. On the Left, but within the Partition for
Phyfick) Dramatick Poefy, with a Vizard, re
presenting Comedy, a bloody Dagger for Tragedy,
and the Reed Pipe for Pafloral.
In the Square on the Right Side of the
Circle, is Law, with her Ruling Scepter, ac
companied with Records, Patents, and Evi
dences on the one Side, and on the other with
Rhetorick ; By thefe is an attending Genius, with
the Scales of Jujlite, and a Figure with a Palm-
branch, the Emblem of Reward for virtuous
Actions j and the Roman Fafcesb the Marks of
Power and Punifhment.
Printing, with a Cafe of Letters in one Hand,
and a Form ready fet in the other, and by her
feveraj Sheets hanging as drying.
On

( 6 )
On the left fide oppofite to Law is Phyjick*
holding the knotty Staff of Mfcuhpius with a
Serpent winding about it: the Botanijl im
ploring the Affiftance of Truth, in the right
understanding of the Nature of her Plants :
Chymijlry with a Retort in her Hands j And
Chirurgery preparing herfelf to finifh the Dif
fering of a Head, which hath the Brain al
ready opened, and held before her by one of the
Genii. - On the Left Side the Circle, oppofite to
Theology, in three Squares, are the Mathematical
Sciences, (depending on Demonjlration,) as the
other on Faith, in the firft of which is AJlro-
rtomy with the Celeftial Globe, Geography with
the Terreftrial, together with three attending
Genii ; having Arithmetick in the Square on one
Hand, with a Paper of Figures; Optics with
the Perfpeclive Glafs ; Geometry with a Pair of
Compafies in her Left ; and a Table with Geo
metrical Figures in it, in her Right-Hand : and
in the Square on the other Hand, Architecture
embracing the Capital of a Column, with Com
pares, and the Norma or Square lying by her,
and a Workman holding another Square in one
Hand, and a Plumb Line in the other.
¦ ' In the midft of thefe Squares and Triangles
(as defcending from above) is the Figure of
Truth fitting as on a Cloud, in one Hand hold
ing" a Palm Branch (the Emblem of Victory)
in .the other the Sun, whofe Brightnefs enlightens
the whole Circle of Figures, and is fo bright, thai;

( 7 )
that it feems to hide the Face of herfelf, to the
Spectators below.
Over the Entrance of the Front of the
Theatre, are Three Figures tumbling down;
Firft Envy, with her Snaky Hairs, Squint Eyes,
Nag's Breaft, pale venomous Compaction, ftrong
but ugly Limbs, and riveled Skin, > frighted from
above by the Sight of the Shield of Pa/las, with
the Gorgon's Head in it, againft which fhe oppofes
her fnaky TrefTes, but her fall is fo precipitous,'
that fhe has no command of her Arms.
Then Rapine, with her fiery Eyes, grinning
Teeth, fharp Twangs, her Hands imbruded in
Blood, holding a bloody Dagger in one Hand, in
the other a burning Flambeau ; with thefe In-
ftruments threatening the Deftruction of Learn
ing, and all its Habitations, but fhe is overcome,
and prevented, by a Herculean Genius, or Power.
Next that is reprefented brutifh, fcoffing Igno
rance, endeavouring to vilify and condemn what
fhe underftands not, which is charmed by a
Mercurial Genius with his Caduceus.
In this Theatre are held the Public Acts,
called the Comitia qt Encaenia : At which folemn
Times there are feveral extraordinary Proctors *
appointed, who are to take Care that public Peace
is obferved, and that all Perfons are placed ac
cording to their Degrees.
When properly filled, the Vice -Chancellor
being feated in the Center of the femicircular,
Part the Doctors on his Right and Left Hand,
the Proctors and Curators in their Robes, the
Mafters

( 8 )
Mafters of Arts, Bachelors, and Under-Gra-
duates, in their refpective Habits and Places, to
gether with Strangers of both Sexes, it makes
the moft auguft Appearance of any Room what
ever. The flat Roof is compofed of fhort Pieces
«tf Timber, continued to a great Breadth, with
out Arch-work or Pillar to fupport them, being
fuftained only by the Side- Walls and their own
Texture, though from Side- Wall to Side- Wall
it is 80 Feet over one Way, and 70 the other ;
which gave Occafion to fay, that the Foundation
vwas on the Roof.
This Edifice, which juftly deferves to be
deemed one of our principal Curiofities, was
built by that celebrated Architect Sir Chrijlopher
Wren^ at the Expence of Arch-bifhop Sheldon,
the Chancellor, A.D. 1669, and coft his Orace
no lefsthan 15000/. befides which he left 2000/.
to purchafe Lands for the perpetual Repair
of it.
¦$« FINIS.

6385

YALE