Psyche
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The art of engraving gemstones has been admired since the early days of the Roman Empire. It was revived in Europe during the Renaissance, and again in the 18th and 19th centuries. Cameos and intaglios were prized and collected, sometimes as symbols of power and mounted in jewelled settings, sometimes as small objects for private devotion or enjoyment .This gem is in the neo-classical style popular in the late 1700s and early 1800s, when taste in the arts echoed the subject matter and style of the Greek and Roman masters. Thousands of gems were made in this style in Italy and brought back by British Grand Tourists, who went there to visit the newly-discovered classical antiquities and archaeological sites. In 2nd century Roman tales, the beautiful maid Psyche was Cupid's lover, who eventually after many trials was united with him in heaven. She came to symbolise the Soul seeking union with Desire, and is often accompanied in images by a butterfly, representing the soul.
Physical description
Vertical oval cameo. White over pale brown layered agate, variety 'sardonyx'. Depicts Psyche naked and running or dancing to right. She wears a butterfly's wing in her hair, and is feeding a butterfly, holding up the butterfly in her left hand and a dish in the right. Set in a gold ring.
Place of Origin
Italy (made)
Date
ca. 1800 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Engraved gemstone
Dimensions
Height: 23 mm approx., Width: 15 mm approx.
Object history note
This gem was part of the collection of the Reverend Chauncy Hare Townshend (1798-1868), who bequeathed his important collection to the South Kensington Museum in 1869. Although the gemstone collection is not as comprehensive as that found at the Natural History Museum, it is of particular historic interest as its formation pre-dates the development of many synthetic stones and artificial enhancements. All the stones were mounted as rings before they came to the Museum. Some are held in the Sculpture Section, other more elaborately mounted ones in the Metalwork Section.
As well as being a clergyman, collector and dillettante, the Reverend Townshend wrote poetry. He met Robert Southey in 1815 and through him the Wordsworths, the Coleridges and John Clare. He was a friend of Charles Dickens and dedicatee of his novel 'Great Expectations'.
Historical context note
Engraved gemstones based on classical models were widely produced and collected in Italy in the eighteenth century. Many were brought back by British Grand Tourists, and important collections were formed.
Descriptive line
Cameo depicting Psyche naked and feeding a butterfly, oval sardonyx of two strata, set in gold ring; Italy, ca.1800
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington, Acquired During the Year 1869, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition. London : Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O. p. 126.
Machell Cox, E., Victoria & Albert Museum Catalogue of Engraved Gems. London, Typescript, 1935, Part 2, Section 2, p.214.
Production Note
Attribution note: White over pale brown translucent chalcedonies. The figure of Psyche has been cut to include a pale blush (from a layer once above) over the surface of her skin. The pale brown material is heavily included with microscopically small, granular red inclusions.
Materials
Chalcedony; Gemstone; Microquartz; Layered agate; Sardonyx
Techniques
Gem engraving
Subjects depicted
Psyche
Categories
Sculpture; Jewellery
Collection code
SCP
