George Washington
Their substance being relatively soft, cameos made from seashells rarely survive from early periods. Such cameos are less labor-intensive than hardstone ones and do not permit the revelation of as many colors and strata, so were accordingly less prestigious. Nevertheless, in the hands of able carvers, shell cameos could attain high quality. The most prized shells were those of the helmet genus, which may have been more available to Americans than the choicest hardstones.
Artwork Details
- Title: George Washington
- Artist: L. Michelini (Italian, active Paris)
- Date: second half 19th century
- Culture: Italian, Rome
- Medium: Shell
- Dimensions: Overall (confirmed): 7/8 x 3/4 in. (2.3 x 1.9 cm); 23.3 x 18.8 mm
- Classification: Lapidary Work-Gems
- Credit Line: The Milton Weil Collection, 1940
- Object Number: 40.20.13
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
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Antonio Canova (Italian, Possagno 1757–1822 Venice)
1804–6
Antonio Canova (Italian, Possagno 1757–1822 Venice) , and his studio
1819–24
Cameo by Benedetto Pistrucci (Italian, 1783–1855, active England)
ca. 1830–40
Luigi Saulini (Italian, 1819–1883)
mid-19th century
Giuseppe Girometti (Italian, Rome 1780–1851 Rome)
ca. 1815–25
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