Quantcast
  Due to a new server, slow response may occur for which we apologize Portal logo
Login/Register
Bactrian Gold Treasure from Afghanistan, coming soon....
/gemstones/king-gems-decorative-stones/page_083 - 2
 

Camahutum, Cameo

Camahutum, Cameo Page of 384 Camahutum, Cameo Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
74
NATURAL HISTORY OF GEMS.
thin strata of opaque white upon a buff ground, and exactly imitating the Agate-onyx of two layers only. In this the artists of the early Cinque-cento, even the very ablest of their school, produced the most elaborate and carefully-finished designs, perhaps encouraged by the extreme facility of the mechanical part of the work, which is performed entirely with the graver as in executing woodcuts. Of the productions of this date the most noted are the bracelets of Diana de Poitiers (Bibliothèque Impériale), consisting each of seven oval plaques linked together, bearing sever­ally one or more animals pertaining to the chase ; a lion, a wolf, a stag, a wild bull, a group of horses ; in accordance with the absorbing passion of the fair owner. The settings are enamelled with the well-known cypher of her royal lover ; and the work is ascribed, but only upon plausible conjecture, to the contemporary and famous engraver to the Mint, Matteo del Nassaro. The Marlborough Cabinet includes, amongst its other rarities, some wonderful spe­cimens of the same class, without a name, indeed, but infinitely surpassing the last mentioned in artistic merit. The first is a battle-piece, full of figures grouped with a spirit and an intricacy reminding one of Albert Durer's celebrated battle-cut in the ' Triumph of Maximilian.' The second, on a somewhat larger scale, gives us to the life the Indian Triumph of Bacchus, where the god returns enthroned upon his elephant, escorted by a countless train of bacchantes and satyrs. The third is the very earliest memorial of this invention to be seen anywhere : it is the busts side by side of the Three Kings, each exhibiting his national complexion in the natural colours of the shell, of white, tawny, and black, marking the personifications of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The stiff manner retains much of the Gothic, and indicates the date of this cameo as not later than the middle of the Quatro-cento period.
Camahutum, Cameo Page of 384 Camahutum, Cameo
Suggested Illustrations
Other Chapters you may find useful
Other Books on this topic
bullet Tag
This Page