finger-ring;
intaglio
- Museum number
- 1978,1002.1078
- Description
-
Gold finger-ring set with a sardonyx intaglio of Brutus, with a dagger and engraved with Greek characters for the maker's mark.
- Production date
- 18thC(late)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 2.40 centimetres (bezel)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Text from catalogue of the Hull Grundy Gift (Gere et al 1984) no 834:
Giovanni Pichler was the son of the gem-engraver Anton Pichler, and was trained by his father in Rome. This form of signature was used by both Giovanni and his half-brother Luigi. The style of the intaglio suggests a late eighteenth-century date, and an attribution to Giovanni is consistent with other gems from his hand, but Luigi was taught by his half-brother and took over his unfinished work in 1791.Dalton says of Giovanni: '.... they can be very much alike ... when ... Luigi Pichler copied one of Giovanni's gems and signed in the same way as his brother, it is difficult to be sure which of the two was actually the artist.' Rollett (1874) lists only two intaglios of this subject, both as by Giovanni (nos 54 and 55), so it seems safe to assume that this gem was cut by him. An account of Giovanni's life was published in Rome the year after his death (see de Rossi 1792). (Charlotte Gere)
For illustration see Diana Scarisbrick, 'Rings: Symbols of power, wealth and affection', London 1993, p. 152.
- Location
- On display (G47/dc3)
- Acquisition date
- 1978-1981
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1978,1002.1078
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: HG.1078 (masterlist number)
