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Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Pistrucci, Raffaele, born 1818 - died 1899 - Enlarge image
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
- Object:
Cameo
- Place of origin:
England (made)
- Date:
ca. 1840 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Pistrucci, Raffaele, born 1818 - died 1899 (maker)
- Materials and Techniques:
Bullmouth helmet shell (Cypraecassis rufa)
- Museum number:
A.25-1977
- Gallery location:
Sculpture, Room 111, The Gilbert Bayes Gallery, case 2, shelf 3
An intaglio carving is cut into the surface of the material and a cameo is in relief. The art of gemstone carving was known in ancient Greece and Rome and revived in Renaissance Italy, when connoisseurs began to form rich collections of engraved stones. Shell cameos, which were cheaper and more easily worked, became fashionable in the 19th century. Many were bought by tourists as souvenirs.
