FRANCE, PREMIÈRE QUART DU XVIIIE SIÈCLE, D'APRÈS FRANÇOIS GIRARDON (1628-1715)

Blood jasper heliotrope cameo, dark green with red veining, carved on both sides with the left profile of Christ crowned with thorns and the right profile of the Virgin Mary; chased and enameled gold mount with bélière, black and white enamel. Italy, early 17th century Total H. 4.7 cm - Gross weight: 25 g (small invisible chip under the setting, some enamel missing) This variety of heliotrope was used in Italy, especially in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, to make cameos depicting the profile of Christ, the red spots materializing the drops of blood caused by the placing of the crown of thorns, making this iconic representation more pathetic. Many glyptic collections possess medallions similar to this one: four double-sided ones can be found in the Medici gem gallery at Florence's Museo degli Argenti (n. 105, 1817, 1818 and 1819), one carved only on one side with Christ's profile is part of the Duc d'Orléans engraved stones kept at the Hermitage (inv. K 647), and another in a private collection. In contrast to all these comparative examples, the lapidary of this beautiful and rare medallion has pushed realism to the point of engraving tears of blood on Jesus' face; it also features an enamelled gold mounting of great refinement of execution. Works consulted : - J. Kagan and O. Neverov, Le destin d'une collection, 500 Pierres gravées du cabinet duc d'Orléans, St. Petersburg, 2001, p. 219 - R. Gennaioli, Le gemme dei Medici al Museo degli Argenti, Florence, 2007, pp. 336-339 - P. Vitellozzi, Tesori di una collezione privata, intagli, cammei, gioielli, objets de vertu, Perugia, 2017, p. 58