Lot 195 | A FINE ROMAN GARNET INTAGLIO. MALE PORTRAIT.

Bertolami Fine Art - Piazza Lovatelli 1, 00186 Roma

A FINE ROMAN GARNET INTAGLIO. MALE PORTRAIT.

A FINE ROMAN GARNET INTAGLIO. MALE PORTRAIT.

Early 1st century A.D.

17x19x3 mm

Private portrait of a Roman character from the late Republican age. The effigy faces left and is engraved with great skill. The man is characterized by features of mature age, with a partially bald skull, a pronounced nose, slightly open mouth, pronounced cheekbone; the bust is draped. The subject refers to the time of Julius Caesar and recalls characters such as Cicero, Maecenas and also the dictator Silla. Large stone, characterized by a splendid dark amber color. Wear marks.

For a similar portrait and style: M-L. Vollenweider, Camees et intailles. Les portraits romains du Cabinet des medailles, Tome II n. 2, 13, 15. M-L. Vollenweider, Die portratgemmen der romischen Republik, taf. 58, 64 ss. For a similar portrait using the samew type of stone, see G.M.A. Richter, Catalogue of the engraved gems (MET), p. 104 n. 474.

Provenance: U.K. private, acquired on the art market 1980s-1990s