Helmet shell, carved, depicting Diana at the hunt, made possibly in Naples, ca. 1850

The central figure of the scene is that of Diana; her skirts caught up above her knees for the hunt, she holds aloft her bow and quiver, her hair flies out behind her and her brow is crowned by her attribute the crescent moon. Around her in an animated scene are her nymphs and some male companions. One group loose their arrows at a bird overhead, while another struggles to restrain Diana's large hounds. Others can be seen in the background carrying back slaughtered deer and blowing a hunting horn. Other figures gather or sit watching the scene, and a naked couple holds a pole hung at the top with her personal equipment - shoes, hunting horn, spoon, fork and arrow and (?) a leather strop. In a secondary area of carving below the main cameo two naked flying putti assisted by a bird, hold between them a banner inscribed.

Bequeathed by Miss L. E. Viner

Given by the late Miss L.E. Viner, Epsom, Surrey, in 1995.

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.

The source for the subject of this carving is the painting Diana with the Nymphs at play, 1616-17, by the Italian artist Domenichino (1581-1641) in the Borghese Gallery, Rome. The carver would have known the scene either from the original painting, or through copies and engravings.

A.2-1995