The famous Francois vase at Florence is a
marvelous example of this sixth century workmanship; every inch of its
closely adorned surface is covered with carefully drawn figures in
black, white, and purple. This particular piece was probably made by
two Athenian artists, as it shows two distinct types of work. Think
how fortunate we are to have had it come down to us unbroken through
the tumult of the years!"
Mr. Croyden gazed thoughtfully into the fire.
"You know that at the time these exquisite vases were made the entire
Greek nation was devoting itself to the fashioning of beautiful
things. Sculptors were carving wonderful statues, toiling eagerly to
make each piece more perfect in form; architects were rearing such
buildings as the world has never since seen; and in the centre of
Athens a district was reserved which was entirely occupied by the
shops of potters and painters and known as the _ceramicus_. It is from
this ancient word that our present day term ceramics is
derived. Within this area devoted to the making of pottery the artists
worked, each one reverently bending his energy to give to the world a
thing which should be as nearly perfect in form and decoration as he
could make it.
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