An elegant pair of giltwood glazed frames enclosing fourteen Grand Tour intaglios dating from the early 19th Century.
The oval shaped plaster intaglios feature subjects predominantly from Classical Antiquity.
Each with a large central cameo depicting, an embracing couple from classical mythology, and Dionysus and Ariadne in romantic embrace in an allegory of love or reunion.
The twins Romulus and Remus the founders of Rome being suckled by a she-wolf Lupercal and also featured as well as any others.
The intaglios are beautifully mounted on a black velvet ground in rectangular glazed and giltwood box frames.
Add a beautiful classical element to your home with this delightful framed pair.
Condition:
In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 42 cm x Width 35 cm x Depth 4 cm - Frame
Dimensions in inches:
Height 1 foot, 4 inches x Width 1 foot, 2 inches x Depth 2 inches - Frame
Intaglios - were originally used
...as seals, these carvings or cuttings are moulded out of white plaster, marble dust or wax. The original 19th century intaglios were also made from wood or stone. The depressed designs depicting ancient scenes from Greece, Italy, etc were also used as markers of the land. They were also collected as souvenirs from European Grand Tours in 1830.
The Grand Tour
was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary.
It served as an educational rite of passage. Though primarily associated with the British nobility and wealthy landed gentry, similar trips were made by wealthy young men of Protestant Northern European nations on the Continent, and from the second half of the 18th century some South American, U.S., and other overseas youth joined in. The tradition was extended to include more of the middle class after rail and steamship travel made the journey less of a burden.
The primary value of the Grand Tour, it was believed, lay in the exposure both to the cultural legacy of classical antiquity and the Renaissance, and to the aristocratic and fashionably polite society of the European continent. In addition, it provided the only opportunity to view specific works of art, and possibly the only chance to hear certain music. A grand tour could last from several months to several years. It was commonly undertaken in the company of a knowledgeable guide or tutor.
The Grand Tour not only provided a liberal education but allowed those who could afford it the opportunity to buy things otherwise unavailable at home, and it thus increased participants'' prestige and standing. Grand Tourists would return with crates of art, books, pictures, sculpture, and items of culture, which would be displayed in libraries, cabinets, gardens, and drawing rooms, as well as the galleries built purposely for their display; The Grand Tour became a symbol of wealth and freedom.
Our reference: A5251
Internal Reference: A5251
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA1215438
Dateline of this antique is 19th Century
Height is 42cm (16.5inches)Width is 35cm (13.8inches)Depth is 4cm (1.6inches)
Thank you.
Your comment has been sent to Sellingantiques.