his. But here we are at the Academy. I shall not allow
you to look at much here this morning. We will go and sit in the farther
corner of this first corridor, for I wish to talk a little, and just
here we shall find all that I need for illustration."

"You need not put on such a martyr-look, Malcom," continued he, as they
walked on. "I prophesy that not one here present will feel more solid
interest in the work we are beginning than you will, my boy."

When Mr. Sumner had gathered the little group about him, he began to
talk of the beauties of Greek art--how it had flourished for centuries
before Christ.

"But I thought Greek art consisted of sculptures," said Barbara.

"Much of it was sculptured,--all of it which remains,--but we have
evidence that the Greeks also produced beautiful paintings, which, could
they have been preserved, might be not unworthy rivals of modern
masterpieces," replied Mr. Sumner. "After the Roman invasion of Greece,
these ancient works of art were mostly destroyed. Rome possessed no fine
art of her own, but imported Greek artists to produce for her. These,
taken away from their native land, and having no noble works around them
for inspiration, began simply to copy each other, and so the art
degenerated from century to century. The growing Christian religion,
which forbade the picturing of any living beauty, gave the death-blow to
such excellence as remained. A style of painting followed which received
the name of Greek Byzantine. In it was no study of life; all was most
strikingly conventional, and it grew steadily worse and worse. A
comparison of the paintings and mosaics of the sixth, seventh, eighth,
and ninth centuries shows the rapid decline of all art qualities.
Finally every figure produced was a most arrant libel on nature. It was
always painted against a flat gold background; the limbs were wholly
devoid of action; the feet and hands hung helplessly; and the eyes were
round and staring. The flesh tints were a dull brick red, and all else a
dreary brown."

"Come here," said he, rising, "and see an example of this Greek
Byzantine art,--this _Magdalen_. Study it well."

"Oh, oh, how dreadful!" chorussed the voices of all.

"Uncle Rob, do you mean to say there was no painting in the world better
than this in the ninth--or thereabouts--century?" asked Malcom, with
wondering eyes.

"I mean to say just that, Malcom. But I must tell you something more
about this same Greek Byzantine