The Agony in the Garden

Cameo
ca. 1500 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The art of engraving gemstones can be traced back to ancient Greece in the 8th century BC and earlier. Techniques passed down to the Egyptians and then to the Romans. There were major revivals of interest in engraved gems in Europe during the Byantine era, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and again in the 18th and 19th centuries. At each stage cameos and intaglios, these skillful carvings on a minute scale, were much prized and collected, sometimes as symbols of power mounted in jewelled settings, sometimes as small objects for private devotion or enjoyment. This cameo conveys in miniature a scene from the Passion of Christ found in the engravings of such South German artists as Martin Schongauer (about 1430-91), and Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528); see V&A inventory numbers E.755-1940 and E.704-1940. On the eve of the Crucifixion Christ has gone to the garden of Gethsemane to pray, accompanied by three of his disciples. While the disciples sleep, Christ kneels in prayer, against a distant view of the towers of Jerusalem. The chalice of bitter wine offered to him by God, and representing the coming suffering of his death on the Cross, appears in front of him.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Agony in the Garden (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Engraved gemstone
Brief description
Cameo depicting The Agony in the Garden, oval layered agate in gold setting; Germany, about 1500
Physical description
Vertical oval cameo. Milky white and dull, mottled, translucent pink layered agate. Depicting the Agony in the Garden. Christ kneels with clasped hands at the top facing left among rocks, a chalice in front of him. Below him the three apostles are shown sleeping, two on the right and one on the left. In the distance a group of buildings represents Jerusalem. Set in a simple gold mount with loop for suspension.
Dimensions
  • Height: 41mm
  • Width: 25mm
Style
Object history
Recorded as 'Bought from Sampson, London'.
Historical context
This cameo conveys in miniature a scene from the Passion of Christ found in the engravings of such south German artists as Martin Schongauer (about 1430-91), and Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), see V&A inventory numbers E.755-1940 and E.704-1940.
Subjects depicted
Associations
Summary
The art of engraving gemstones can be traced back to ancient Greece in the 8th century BC and earlier. Techniques passed down to the Egyptians and then to the Romans. There were major revivals of interest in engraved gems in Europe during the Byantine era, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and again in the 18th and 19th centuries. At each stage cameos and intaglios, these skillful carvings on a minute scale, were much prized and collected, sometimes as symbols of power mounted in jewelled settings, sometimes as small objects for private devotion or enjoyment. This cameo conveys in miniature a scene from the Passion of Christ found in the engravings of such South German artists as Martin Schongauer (about 1430-91), and Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528); see V&A inventory numbers E.755-1940 and E.704-1940. On the eve of the Crucifixion Christ has gone to the garden of Gethsemane to pray, accompanied by three of his disciples. While the disciples sleep, Christ kneels in prayer, against a distant view of the towers of Jerusalem. The chalice of bitter wine offered to him by God, and representing the coming suffering of his death on the Cross, appears in front of him.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1861 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. 5
  • Tait, H. Catalogue of the Waddesdon Bequest in the British Museum, Vol I, The Jewels, London 1986, p. 226
  • King, C. W. Handbook of Engraved Gems. London, 1885, p. 136
  • Machell Cox, E., Victoria & Albert Museum Catalogue of Engraved Gems. London, Typescript, 1935, Part 2, Section 1, p.113.
Collection
Accession number
7535-1861

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Record createdSeptember 2, 2004
Record URL
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