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Their mythological record furnishes the greater number probably of subjects for the artists pencil, and the manuscript of [[strikethrough]] mans [[/strikethrough]] of their immages bear all the rigid characteristics of the nations, That they made extensive use of this mode of record is beyond doubt, and by its means preserved to themselves their mythological belief. Remarkable events in history and private annals. but beyond their own time. the record seems to be of little avail for the purposes designed, altho' of about imperishable material

- Many of their paintings have been described by travellers who have seen them. and are said to possess great uniformity, and the subject most frequently relating to a future state. - The bodies of their deceased were generally swathed in linen painted, and covered with hieroglyphics and in their representations of their dead. they are generally so represented laid out in the sacred boat. preceded by a figure - A winged genius is seen escaping from the corps, probably emblematical of the soul taking its departure, and a train of figures follow with the mask of the sacred bird, indicative [[strikethrough]] probably [[/strikethrough]] no doubt of their sacred office - The portrait of the deceased of the family generally given, accompanied with his genealogy, and probably that of the family, [[strikethrough]] included [[/strikethrough]], also. the record, [[strikethrough]] was [[/strikethrough]] although so industriously given was lost to posterity, the [[strikethrough]] only [[/strikethrough]] preservation of which can alone be supposed to have been the solicitous object of the designers. One of these cases is described in a late publication as having [[?]] [[strikethrough]] in consequence [[/strikethrough]] fortunately of being from the circumstances of translation of being deciphered. It bore the name of the deceased, from whence the body had been brought, the expense of embalming and the name of the person who bore the expense.

[[strikethrough]] Mr. Denon [[/strikethrough]] mentions [[strikethrough]] having seen [[/strikethrough]] is also made of some Egyptian paintings, of more elegance, consisting of a ceiling ornamented with figures painted of a yellow colour, on an azure ground: representing the figures in different attitudes; accompanied with a variety of arms, musical instruments and pieces of furniture - Another apartment is described as containing implements of agriculture, not unlike those now in use, with a man sowing grain on the bank of a canal, fields of rice, and harvesting scenes, and a third chamber as decorated with figures [[strikethrough]] representing a figure [[/strikethrough]]. One in white playing on a harp, accompanied by several without heads, and one with the head cut off. - all of the latter painted black, except the persons performing the decapitation, which was painted in red., and it is said that in whatever attitude the person is represented the head in a profile and the legs in the same line, and without any [[?]] of light and shade, or blending of colours.- A low state of art as compared with any thing of the present time, but highly inclusive as a record of the performance of the people. and art of the period.

The Etrurians are supposed to have passed the art of Design and painting to greater perfection, and their are evidence of their have possessed this art long before the Roman name existed - The peculiar practice of this people is the burial of their dead. have presumed abundant proof of their knowledge - and their sepulchral grottos, designed with taste in Architecture and bound with [[strikethrough]] painting [[/strikethrough]] arabesque paintings, symbolical of the departure of the spirit to the Elysium fields - marking it as a depository for their dead, are evidences of their respect for the departed, and the pains they took to perpetuate their reverence -