Caesar Augustus
Cameo
16th century (made)
16th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This circular cameo of shell is representing the bust to the right of Augustus and is inscribed 'Ottavianus Caesar Augustus'.
It is made by an unknown artist in Italy in the 16th century.
Shell cameos are much easier to cut than those made from gemstones. Also, the raw material is cheaper and easier to acquire. They were popular in the 16th century and then again in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the passion for carved gemstones led to a parallel explosion in the market for cheaper shell cameos. They are still popular today. This cameo together with inv.nos. 251-1853, 252-1853 and 253-1853 formed part of a series, possibly made for a royal patron who would have viewed the Roman emperors as his antecedents.
It is made by an unknown artist in Italy in the 16th century.
Shell cameos are much easier to cut than those made from gemstones. Also, the raw material is cheaper and easier to acquire. They were popular in the 16th century and then again in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the passion for carved gemstones led to a parallel explosion in the market for cheaper shell cameos. They are still popular today. This cameo together with inv.nos. 251-1853, 252-1853 and 253-1853 formed part of a series, possibly made for a royal patron who would have viewed the Roman emperors as his antecedents.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Caesar Augustus (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved shell |
| Brief description | Shell, Italian, 16th century |
| Physical description | Cameo made of shell, depicting laureated bust of Roman emperor Augustus. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Ottavianus Caesar Augustus' (Inscription; decoration; Latin; inscribed) |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This circular cameo of shell is representing the bust to the right of Augustus and is inscribed 'Ottavianus Caesar Augustus'. It is made by an unknown artist in Italy in the 16th century. Shell cameos are much easier to cut than those made from gemstones. Also, the raw material is cheaper and easier to acquire. They were popular in the 16th century and then again in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the passion for carved gemstones led to a parallel explosion in the market for cheaper shell cameos. They are still popular today. This cameo together with inv.nos. 251-1853, 252-1853 and 253-1853 formed part of a series, possibly made for a royal patron who would have viewed the Roman emperors as his antecedents. |
| Bibliographic reference | Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1853. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 3. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 249-1853 |
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| Record created | December 12, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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