This Stunning Intaglio Has Been Set in a Modern
18 Karat Gold Ring
Depicted on the face of this carnelian intaglio is
one of the Muses, a group of nine sisters who
rule over the arts and sciences in Greek
mythology. This goddess can be identified as
Erato the Lovely, the Muse of love poetry and
mimicry often depicted playing a lyre as she is
seen here. The presence of an Eros sculpture
resting on a columnar pedestal solidifies this
attribution. Created during the 18th Century,
this intaglio is the product of the Classical
Revival, a period where modern Europe looked
towards the past and reinterpreted the forms
and arts of ancient Greece and Rome anew. The
art of glyptics, or carving images on precious
stones, is one of the oldest art forms known to
man. The sudden resurrection of the glyptic arts
in modern Europe reveals their obsession with
recreating the masterpieces of antiquity. This
sudden interest in the past is probably a product
of the rapid industrial and urban growth
experienced during this era. As the realities of
city life sank in, surely one would longingly
dream of the past and seek to rekindle the
pastoral lifestyle left behind. Breakthroughs in
scientific understanding in the nascent field of
archaeology surely further fueled the popularity
of the Classical Revival as well. This ring seeks
to connect us with the past. An individual
wearing this lovely carnelian intaglio would
inspire the majesty and grace of the Classics
while simultaneously inspiring their verses of
love poetry dedicated to their own elegance and
beauty.
- (FJ.6795a)
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