Gem Engraving Page 151

King of France, on the occasion of the marriage of the Dauphin to Catherine de Medici.

Trezzo, of Milan, acquired an extensive fame for his portraits on gems, his most remarkable effort being the Tabernacle of the Escurial at Madrid, made of different precious
stones found in Spain, and upon which he bestowed the labor
of seven years. It has been said that he engraved the diamond, but the statement lacks confirmation in the opinion of
some writers. Coldorè, who lived in the reigns of Louis XIII.
and of Henry IV., enjoyed the reputation of being the first
engraver of the seventeenth century. His portraits of Henry,
both in cameo and intaglio, display great artistic merits.

Sirletti, an Italian of the eighteenth century, surpasses all
modern artists in delicacy of finish, and came nearest, probably,
to the ancient Greeks in the artistic merits of his works. The
Costanzi were the most distinguished Roman engravers of
the present century ; Giovanni, the elder of that name,
engraved the head of the Emperor Nero on diamond, while
Carlo, the younger, produced several masterpieces, — the head
of Antinous and a Leda for the King of Portugal, on diamond,
and the portrait of Maria Theresa, on sapphire ; but his most
celebrated work was a table emerald, two inches in diameter,
engraved with the head of the reigning pope on one side, and
of Peter and Paul on the other, intended for a brooch for the
pontiff.

Rega, of Naples, who lived in the latter part of the eighteenth century, came nearer the antique style, it is thought, than
any other modern engraver. Hercules at repose, and the head
of a Bacchante, represent some of his most celebrated works.

Pichler, also a Neapolitan, and one of the first of modern
artists, has produced works of the highest merit; his intagli
have frequently been sold for antiques.