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 enjoymentBurch was one of the most celebrated gem engravers of 18th-century England. His aim was to emulate the great engravers of ancient Greece and Rome, whose work was becoming known through archaeological excavation and purchases made on the Grand Tour. On this intaglio the signature is inverted, suggesting that it was intended for use as a seal.