Antiquize

But in his comedy (particularly that inimitable creation of Falstaffe), there is a constant flow of variety and invention;—and,—what is singular,—the language is more easy, and less tinged with the marks of antiquity, than that of his tragic dialogue. This is an exception from the common rule; for the indirect evanescent allusions, and idiomatic phraseology of comic writing are usually found to antiquize, (if I may be allowed a new coinage), before the more general ideas, and forms of expression, which occur in solemn composition.

[…]I found myself frowning at the painting. Two figures were seated on the lawn, quite like statues. Modern dress, so there was no intent to antiquize.

In Mantova’s Chiesa Sant’Andrea the distinction between the decorative and the figurative is more obvious. There is no overlap, no intermingling between the large paintings, the cupola figurative extravaganza and the ornamental decorations neatly surrounding or supporting them. Whilst the grottesca candelaber pilaster “antiquize”, the figurative scenes narrate Christian stories.