Antique Obelisks with Cameos, 1790

Details

Description

Pair of obelisks adorned with plaster cameos
Italian work, late 18th century

The cameos depict scenes in the classical Greek … Read more Pair of obelisks adorned with plaster cameos
Italian work, late 18th century

The cameos depict scenes in the classical Greek and Neoclassical styles.

The interest in Neoclassical forms and ornamentation, very fashionable under Louis XVI, the Directory, and the Empire, fostered the creation and dissemination of artworks influenced by Greco-Roman art.
The craze for casts of engraved gems (cast on cameos or intaglios) corresponds to the era of the "Grand Tour." During their travels in Italy, passionate collectors and artists brought back cases of cast miniatures as typical souvenirs or as subjects for study, drawing inspiration from classical themes.
An intaglio is a hard, fine stone engraved in relief, often mounted on a ring to serve as a seal or stamp. The most frequently used stones for intaglios are carnelian, chalcedony, agate, jasper, and rock crystal. A cameo, on the other hand, is a stone carved in relief.
Both intaglios and cameos feature classic figurative motifs.

These exquisitely crafted casts depict Greek and Roman deities, architectural details, and mythological figures.

These cameos were mounted on cardboard obelisks covered in blue and white paper, reminiscent of 18th-century Wedgwood porcelain, itself inspired by antique cameos.

Furthermore, these objects bear witness to the fascination with the Orient and antiquity that emerged at the end of the 18th century.

Mounted on paper obelisks circa 1900
Dimensions: 42 x 13 x 13 cm See less