Apollo and Marsyas
Cameo
ca. 1650-1670 (made)
ca. 1650-1670 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
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. The satyr Marsyas was a skilled flute-player who was forced into a musical contest with the god Apollo. Unfortunately, he used a flute that had been cursed and discarded by the goddess Minerva. Apollo won the contest and ordered Marsyas to be tied to a pine tree and flayed alive.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Apollo and Marsyas (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved shell |
| Brief description | Shell cameo of the flaying of Marsyas by Apollo, Italian, ca. 1650-1670 |
| Credit line | Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA |
| Object history | Given by Dr W.L Hildburgh, F.S.A. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | 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. The satyr Marsyas was a skilled flute-player who was forced into a musical contest with the god Apollo. Unfortunately, he used a flute that had been cursed and discarded by the goddess Minerva. Apollo won the contest and ordered Marsyas to be tied to a pine tree and flayed alive. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.15-1937 |
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| Record created | January 12, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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