objects cut in precious stones, including rock-crystal, lapis-,
lazuli, and others of a second class, all enriched with gems.
Some of these articles are remarkable for their beauty and
excellence of workmanship, comprising a casket representing
twenty-four scenes from the life of Christ, made for Pope
Clement VIII., by Belli Vicenza, and regarded the rarest work
in the collection ; a vase attributed to Cellini ; a bas-relief in gold
and jasper ; a cup ornamented with pearls, representing a classical scene, by Bologna ; a bas-relief in gold and gems in imitation
of the Piazza della Signoria, one of the principal squares in
Florence ; besides numerous vases, cups, bowls, columns, and
other objects, in different kinds of precious stones.
The intagli and carnei represent a variety of subjects, and
afford excellent studies in antique art ; some of the most
remarkable are the "Antoninus Pius," of extraordinary size; the
"Judgment of Paris," a favorite subject for engraving; and
"Hercules and Hebe." The ornamental tables in this collection
are wonderfully beautiful and rich in gem-decoration, notably
those of Persian lapis-lazuli. One of the number required the
labor of fourteen years to make it, and is valued at one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars. Others, made of jasper, and different
costly materials, are all embellished with precious stones and
pearls, representing mosaics, birds, foliage, flowers, vines, grapes,
and shells.
The Vatican contains a great number and variety of
precious stones, accumulated from time to time by chance
acquisitions. Visconti made a catalogue of this extensive
cabinet, which filled two folio volumes, but unfortunately it was
lost before publication. The royal palace of Capodimonte,
Naples, comprises a large collection of gems, while the palace
at Caserta, once a favorite resort of the royal family, has been
»early despoiled of its works of art, though a few interesting
