Bertolami Fine Art - Piazza Lovatelli 1, 00186 Roma
ASTA 267 - GLITTICA ASTA 267 - GLITTICA
Friday 7 July 2023 hours 12:30 (UTC +00:00)
A LARGE AGATE CAMEO. PORTRAIT OF A SULEYMAN II (REIGN 1520-1566).
A LARGE AGATE CAMEO. PORTRAIT OF A SULEYMAN II (REIGN 1520-1566).
19th century or later
32x35x5 mm
The Sultan Suleyman the Magnificient is facing left. Various anatomical and stylistical elements point towards this attribution; in this case the resemblances in the shape of his turban, the dropping collar, his aquiline nose, fine lips and protruding chin with a refine moustache and slight delineation of the Adam's apple. The portrait is finely carved with mirror polishing and raised by two consecutive carved frames on the edge of the stone, giving the piece an additional touch of preciousness. Very large size.
For a similar portraiture see: from Cristofano dell Altissimo, portrait of Suleyman the Magnificient (1494-1566), Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence and the portrait made by a Follower of Gentile Bellini, circa 1520, sold at Sotheby's on May 1st 2019
Provenance: U.K. private collection acquired on the british art market.