Framed Group of Seven Italian Grand Tour Cast Plaster Intaglios, 19th Century

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Framed Group of Seven Italian Grand Tour Cast Plaster Intaglios, 19th Century

This refined framed composition features a group of … Read more Framed Group of Seven Italian Grand Tour Cast Plaster Intaglios, 19th Century

This refined framed composition features a group of seven Italian Grand Tour intaglios, executed in cast plaster and dating to the 19th century. The intaglios are arranged in a balanced horizontal format and presented in a custom giltwood frame with a richly colored turquoise fabric ground, creating a striking contrast that highlights the sculptural relief.

Produced for the Grand Tour market, these plaster casts replicate classical engraved gems and ancient Roman cameos, allowing travelers to collect affordable yet academically faithful representations of antiquity. The subjects include classical profile portraits, mythological figures, and narrative scenes drawn from Greco-Roman history and legend. Such imagery reflected the Neoclassical ideals of learning, virtue, and cultural refinement prized by 19th-century collectors.

The intaglios vary in scale and shape—ovals and rectangles—creating visual rhythm across the composition while demonstrating the precision and clarity achievable in high-quality plaster casting. These works were typically produced in Roman and Florentine workshops specializing in casts after antique originals and Renaissance interpretations.

The later giltwood frame, with its layered molding and softly aged surface, complements the Neoclassical character without overpowering the objects. Decorative yet scholarly, this framed grouping works beautifully in Neoclassical, Regency, or contemporary interiors as a reference to classical taste and the Grand Tour collecting tradition.

Dimensions:
28" W × 7" H × 1" D See less