4
For we weren’t led astray by any evil plan of men’s, nor yet by painters’ fruitless labor, a form stained with varied colors,
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ExplanationCommentary
Verse 4. Us. He wrote after the captivity, when the Jews abhorred idolatry, ( Calmet.) as they might also do at the beginning of Solomon’s reign. Bible.—Picture. It is not certain that the art was known in the days of Moses, or that he expressly forbade it. Pliny says it was discovered at Corinth, by making the outlines of a man’s shadow on the wall. Afterwards one colour was used, till a variety was found to represent things more perfectly, (L. xxxv. 3, 4.) so as to deceive the senses, for which reason it is styled a fruitless labour. Calmet.
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