Classical Revival Intaglio of the Muse Erato, 18th Century CE
Carnelian-Gold
FJ.6639
This Stunning Intaglio Has Been Set in a Modern 18 Karat Gold Rin Depicted on the face of this carnelian intaglio is one of the Muses, a group of nine...
This Stunning Intaglio Has Been Set in a Modern 18 Karat Gold Rin
Depicted on the face of this carnelian intaglio is one of the Muses, a group of nine sisters who rule over the arts and sciences in Greek mythology. This goddess can be identified as Erato the Lovely, the Muse of love poetry and mimicry often depicted playing a lyre as she is seen here. The presence of an Eros sculpture resting on a columnar pedestal solidifies this attribution. Created during the 18th Century, this intaglio is the product of the Classical Revival, a period where modern Europe looked towards the past and reinterpreted the forms and arts of ancient Greece and Rome anew. The art of glyptics, or carving images on precious stones, is one of the oldest art forms known to man. The sudden resurrection of the glyptic arts in modern Europe reveals their obsession with recreating the masterpieces of antiquity. This sudden interest in the past is probably a product of the rapid industrial and urban growth experienced during this era. As the realities of city life sank in, surely one would longingly dream of the past and seek to rekindle the pastoral lifestyle left behind. Breakthroughs in scientific understanding in the nascent field of archaeology surely further fueled the popularity of the Classical Revival as well. This pendant seeks to connect us with the past. An individual wearing this lovely intaglio would inspire the majesty and grace of the Classics while simultaneously inspiring their own verses of love poetry dedicated to their elegance and beauty.
Depicted on the face of this carnelian intaglio is one of the Muses, a group of nine sisters who rule over the arts and sciences in Greek mythology. This goddess can be identified as Erato the Lovely, the Muse of love poetry and mimicry often depicted playing a lyre as she is seen here. The presence of an Eros sculpture resting on a columnar pedestal solidifies this attribution. Created during the 18th Century, this intaglio is the product of the Classical Revival, a period where modern Europe looked towards the past and reinterpreted the forms and arts of ancient Greece and Rome anew. The art of glyptics, or carving images on precious stones, is one of the oldest art forms known to man. The sudden resurrection of the glyptic arts in modern Europe reveals their obsession with recreating the masterpieces of antiquity. This sudden interest in the past is probably a product of the rapid industrial and urban growth experienced during this era. As the realities of city life sank in, surely one would longingly dream of the past and seek to rekindle the pastoral lifestyle left behind. Breakthroughs in scientific understanding in the nascent field of archaeology surely further fueled the popularity of the Classical Revival as well. This pendant seeks to connect us with the past. An individual wearing this lovely intaglio would inspire the majesty and grace of the Classics while simultaneously inspiring their own verses of love poetry dedicated to their elegance and beauty.