Apollo Belvedere
Cameo
18th century to 19th century (made)
18th century to 19th century (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.
This example shows the Apollo Belvedere, a marble statue in the Vatican. The original, probably a Roman copy of a Greek bronze, was described in 1523 as 'famous throughout the world'.
This example shows the Apollo Belvedere, a marble statue in the Vatican. The original, probably a Roman copy of a Greek bronze, was described in 1523 as 'famous throughout the world'.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Apollo Belvedere (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Shell, carved |
| Brief description | Italian, 18th or 19th century |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh |
| Object history | Given by Dr W.L Hildburgh, F.S.A. |
| Subject 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. This example shows the Apollo Belvedere, a marble statue in the Vatican. The original, probably a Roman copy of a Greek bronze, was described in 1523 as 'famous throughout the world'. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.16-1937 |
About this object record
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| Record created | January 12, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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