ticketsMember | Make a donation

Portrait of Benedetto Pistrucci

ca. 1850
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 556
Benedetto Pistrucci taught gem carving to his children. This is an exceedingly rare tribute from a carver to her father and mentor. The buoyant curls and muttonchops above the timelessly classical drapery at the neck are easily interpretable as silvery white marks of distinction.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Portrait of Benedetto Pistrucci
  • Artist: Maria Elisa Pistrucci (British, 1824–1881, active London and Rome)
  • Date: ca. 1850
  • Culture: British, probably London
  • Medium: Sardonyx
  • Dimensions: Overall: 1 1/2 x 1 1/4 x 1/4 in. (3.9 x 3.3 x 0.7 cm); 38.7 x 32.5 x 6.8 mm
  • Classification: Lapidary Work-Gems
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Assunta Sommella Peluso, Ada Peluso, and Romano I. Peluso Gift, in memory of Ignazio Peluso, 2003
  • Object Number: 2003.464
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Head of Hercules, Maria Elisa Pistrucci British, Onyx or sardonyx, Italian, Rome
Head of Hercules
Maria Elisa Pistrucci
mid-19th century
Venus Marina, Cupid at Her Side, Benedetto Pistrucci Italian, Onyx, gold, British, London
Venus Marina, Cupid at Her Side
Benedetto Pistrucci
ca. 1820–30
Head of Medusa, Benedetto Pistrucci Italian, Red jasper mounted in gold with white enamel, Italian, executed in England (London)
Head of Medusa
Benedetto Pistrucci
Carlo Giuliano
cameo 1840–50, mount ca. 1860
The Fall of Phaeton, Adolphe David, Sardonyx, French, Paris
The Fall of Phaeton
Adolphe David
third quarter 19th century
Angels Bearing the Body of Saint Catherine to Mount Sinai, Luigi Saulini Italian, Sardonyx, Italian, Rome
Angels Bearing the Body of Saint Catherine to Mount Sinai
Luigi Saulini
Heinrich Karl Anton Mücke
mid-19th century

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.