19th Century Italian Grand Tour Intaglios

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19th Century Italian Grand Tour Intaglios

About the Item

An all original boxed set of Grand Tour Italian plaster intaglios in almost pristine condition. Often these sets are broken up and framed for resale, it is rare to find them in their original condition. These are very fine examples of the craft, with minute details including writing on many of them, all wrapped in gilt edged paper and mounted on cobalt blue paper. Each numbered on the side, the numbers would have corresponded to a list of the works of art and the museums where they were located. This was a wonderful keepsake, before the age of photography. During the 18th and 19th century, the opportunity to take the “Grand Tour” spread from the aristocracy to the new Industrial and professional elites. “The Grand Tour offered another very popular type of travel souvenir, the now nearly forgotten cameos (intaglios). The taste for these engraved antique gems was revived as part of the classical revival and later reproduced as miniature plaster casts. Mounted in faux book bindings, these plaster cameos provided a minutely detailed cabinet of neoclassical knowledge and art." (Princeton University). Count Hawks Le Grice wrote of these works in his 'Walks through the Studii of the Sculptors at Rome 1821', "Although the intaglios are but miniature copies, they exhibit all the fidelity and beauty of the originals, and convey to the eye a better idea of sculptured works of art than the most finished engravings. Collections in intaglio may be had of all the works existing in the different museums in Europe."

Dimensions:
Height: 4 in (10.16 cm)Width: 6 in (15.24 cm)Depth: 10 in (25.4 cm)
Style:
Neoclassical (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Plaster
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
Early 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1810-1820
Condition:
Though these are made of plaster and 200 years old I have to say they are in excellent condition. Some minor rubbing on some of them. I've handled many over the years, these are some of the best I've seen.
Seller Location:
Stamford, CT
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU803013508342