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E-SHOP / a renaissance agate cameo. the olympian gods.

A Renaissance agate cameo. The Olympian gods.

£ 5200

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a renaissance agate cameo. the olympian gods.

A Renaissance agate cameo. The Olympian gods.

£ 5200

Dim.3.9 x 3.9 x 0.4 cm (1 ¹/₂ x 1 ¹/₂ x 0 ¹/₈ inches)
Renaissance, Late 16th century - 17th century

The scene depicts Jupiter, supreme ruler of the gods enthroned and surrounded by his sons, Mercury (the messenger god) on the left, holding the caduceus and wearing the winged cask. Meanwhile on his right, Mars (the god of war) helmeted and holding spear and an anthropomorphic shield. Below the three gods, the torso of Neptune (God of the Seas, and brother of Jupiter), rears upwards from the waves. 

The pyramidal arrangement of the group is consistent with the Renaissance virtues of harmonious stable and unified composition adopted by Giorgio Vasari, in reference to Raphael's 1516 drawing for the frontispiece of the Aeneid, and engraved by Marcantonio Raimondi (1430-1534).
Yet in this work, the absence of the zodiacal frame suggests that the piece was part of a larger work.
Three other such Renaissance Zodiacal gems are known:
- The first, in the Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg (inv. no.3706; described as Italian, 16th Century).
-The other comparable gem is in the Cabinet des Medailles, BnF, Paris (inv. N°58.2391, This is of exceptional quality and seems likely to have been in the collection of Peirsac (1580-1637), the eminent French antiquarian of the early 17th century, and was acquired by the French Royal Collection).
- The onyx intaglio (The Walters Art Museum, inv. 42.502) identified as 4th century AD or 16th century. The Arundel Zodiac (Sotheby's, July 15 2021, lot 11). 


Beautiful conservation and large dimension.

Private collection of Mr. F.A, acquired on the art market in the 1980s
Then by descent

Brown, Clifford Malcom. Engraved Gems. Survivals and Revivals. Washington : 1997, p.199 et 221, n°101. 
Chabouillet, Anatole. Catalogue général et raisonné des camées et pierres gravées de la Bibliothèque impériale. Paris : 1858, n°2391. 
Mariette, Pierre-Jean. Traité des Pierres gravées. Paris : 1750, II, pl.I. BNF Medailles at Antiques Archive: inv.58.2391 

Each piece of jewellery is delivered with an authentification certificate signed by Bianca Massard and Gabriele Vangelli de Cresci experts, including additional documentation if existing and exhaustive description of the piece.
Pictures are part of the description and show state of conservation of the item. For additional pictures please contact us. (see contact section)

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Each piece of jewellery is delivered with an authentification certificate signed by Bianca Massard and Gabriele Vangelli de Cresci experts, including additional documentation if existing and exhaustive description of the piece.
Pictures are part of the description and show state of conservation of the item. For additional pictures please contact us. (see contact section)

Shipping and pick-up at the store options can be chosen during check out.

Our exclusive delivery partner is ThePackengers.
ThePackengers, specialized in the packaging and transport of works of art and collectibles, already collaborates with the largest auction houses as Drouot, but also with galleries, fairs, antique dealers, decorators and e-marketplaces.
Shipping Terms and Conditions.
Privacy Policy ThePackengers.

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