George IV, King of Great Britain and Ireland thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 111, The Gilbert Bayes Gallery

George IV, King of Great Britain and Ireland

Cameo
1825-1850 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleGeorge IV, King of Great Britain and Ireland (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Layered agate, in copper-gilt mount
Brief description
Cameo, layered agate, in copper-gilt mount, of George IV, by Giuseppe Girometti, Italy (probably Rome), ca. 1825-50
Physical description
George IV, facing left, with laurel wreath.
Dimensions
  • Height: 6.2cm
  • Width: 4.6cm
Credit line
Given by the Dowager Viscountess Mersey
Object history
Given by the Dowager Viscountess Mersey, in 1959.
Subject depicted
Summary
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.
Bibliographic reference
Trusted, Marjorie, ed. The Making of Sculpture. The Materials and Techniques of European Sculpture. London: 2007, p. 148, pl. 285
Collection
Accession number
A.7-1959

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Record createdMarch 16, 2005
Record URL
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