Saulini Grand Tour portrait cameo

A Horned Helmet shell portrait cameo of a gentleman set to a 15 carat gold mount, circa 1860. Portrait cameos had long been commissioned by royalty, aristocracy and those who had amassed fortune enough to leave their mark on society. In the 19th century those embarking on the Grand Tour often visited the Saulini workshop in Rome, to have their portraits engraved in cameo from preliminary sketches. Saulini cameos were praised by Hawkes Le Grice in Walks Through the Studii of the Sculptors at Rome : The subjects copied by Saulini in cameo have more care than subjects intended to be as an accessory to a Lady’s toilet, and in fact their artistic execution and high finish entitle them to a place in the cabinet of a dilettante.. The cameo is set to a 15 carat rope twist brooch which measures 2 and 1/8 inches by 1 and 3/4 inches. Very finely detailed and sensitive carving.

£1100
Item ref : BC7

Saulini workshop pre-cameo sketches