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Head of Hercules

second quarter 19th century
Not on view
An agate cameo also signed by Girometti with Hercules’ head reversed is in the Vatican’s Museo Gregoriano Profano. In this sardonyx version four strata were deployed: the plummy brown of the Nemean lion’s mask is defined against the blush of Hercules’ cheek, which in turn sets off the paler flesh of the hero’s profile and the white of the beast’s fang and paw.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Head of Hercules
  • Artist: Giuseppe Girometti (Italian, Rome 1780–1851 Rome)
  • Date: second quarter 19th century
  • Culture: Italian, Rome
  • Medium: Sardonyx
  • Dimensions: Overall (confirmed): 1 1/4 x 1 1/16 x 3 5/8 in. (3.2 x 2.7 x 9.2 cm); 32.1 x 26.6 x 9.2 mm
  • Classification: Lapidary Work-Gems
  • Credit Line: The Milton Weil Collection, 1940
  • Object Number: 40.20.37
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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Commemorating Pope Gregory XVI's Confirmaion of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith
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Thalia, Giuseppe Girometti Italian, Onyx, Italian, Rome
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Giuseppe Girometti
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Head of a maiden, Giuseppe Girometti Italian, Sardonyx, Italian, Rome
Head of a maiden
Giuseppe Girometti
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Priam Supplicating Achilles for the Body of Hector, Giuseppe Girometti Italian, Onyx, gold, Italian, Rome
Priam Supplicating Achilles for the Body of Hector
Giuseppe Girometti
ca. 1815–25

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