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The architecture of Marcus Vitruvius Pollio : in ten books / translated from the Latin by Joseph Gwilt, F.S.A., F.R.A.S.
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of the quantity of lights used therein. In these, abovethe podium, polished pannels of a black colour areintroduced, with yellow or red margins round them.The method of finishing plain as well as enrichedceilings having been described, it will not be amiss, incase any one should wish to know it, to explain theconstruction of the pavements used in the Grecianwinter rooms ; which is not only economical but useful.The floor of the triclinium is excavated to the depth ofabout two feet; and after the bottom is well rammed, apavement of rubbish or potsherds is spread over it, witha declivity towards the holes of the drain. A compositionof pounded charcoal, lime, sand, and ashes, is mixed upand spread thereover, half a foot in thickness, perfectlysmooth and level. The surface being then rubbed withstone, it has the appearance of a black pavement. Thus,at their banquets, the liquor that is spilt, and the expec-toration which falls on it, immediately dry up ; and thepersons who wait on the guests, though barefooted, donot suffer from cold on this sort of pavement.

CHAPTEE V.

OF THE USE OF PAINTING IN BUILDINGS.

In the other rooms, namely, those for vernal, autumnal,and summer use ; in atria also, and peristylia, certainkinds of pictures were used by the ancients. Paintingrepresents subjects which exist or may exist, such asmen, houses, ships, and other things, the forms andprecise figures of which are transferred to their repre-sentations. Hence those of the ancients who first usedpolished coats of plastering, originally imitated thevariety and arrangement of inlaid marbles. Afterwards