I cannot conclude what I have to say about art and artists without some reference to painting, an art which was formerly¹ illustrious, when it was held in esteem² both by kings and peoples, and ennobled those whom it deigned³ to transmit to posterity⁴. But at the present day, it is completely banished⁵ in favor of marble, and gold. For not only are whole walls now covered with marble, but the marble itself is carved out or marqueted so as to represent objects and animals of various kinds. No longer now are we satisfied with formal compartitions of marble, or with slabs⁶ extended like so many mountains in our chambers⁷, but we must begin to paint the very stone itself! This art was invented in the reign⁸ of Claudius, but it was in the time of Nero that we discovered the method of inserting in marble spots that do not belong to it, and so varying its uniformity; representing the marble of Numidia variegated⁹ with ovals, and that of Synnada veined with purple; just as luxury might have willed that Nature should produce them. Such are our resources when the quarries¹⁰ fail us, and luxury ceases not to busy itself, in order that as much as possible may be lost whenever a conflagration¹¹ happens.