A set with the same distinct acid-green lining paper is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
This set of plaster-cast (white gesso) impressions of European masterpieces was created by Giovanni Liberotti, a nineteenth-century Roman gem engraver that specialized in making these souvenirs. Liberotti had been initially commissioned to make these impressions based on gems in the collection of Giovanni Battista Soomariva (1760–1826), a noted art patron and collector extraordinaire. Later Liberotti and other competitors would market the boxed sets in Rome to eager tourists. Each box has the impressions glued to an interior board on one side and a handwritten list in Italian of the "Selected Works," which lists each piece's name, artist, and, on occasion, location on the other side.
We have become so accustomed to documenting our trips by taking photos with our phones that it is hard to imagine a time when there were no smartphones, let alone cameras, but travel for pleasure and edification existed long before there were any cameras. From the sixteenth through the nineteenth century, many people widened their cultural horizons by going on what was known as a Grand Tour, where travelers would visit all the major European cities such as Rome, Florence, Venice and Paris. Instead of photographs, they came away with visual aide-mémoires, like these volumes, that helped to remind them of the glorious art work that they had seen abroad.
It is a surprise to note that these miniatures are not just copies of ancient cameos and gems, but many are miniature reproductions of huge paintings, including The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci (La Cena di Gesu con gli apostoli di Leonardo da Vinci Milano), and monumental sculptures, such as works by Antonio Canova and Bertel Thorvaldsen.
Nothing is more impressive than the original engraver's ability here to capture the very essence and detail of the larger masterpieces in such miniature intaglios. It is not surprising that Goethe himself "owned many thousands of casts and told his correspondents years later that no greater treasure could be brought back from Rome." The subjects are predominantly from Classical Antiquity with period busts and classical scenes.
Add a classical element to your home with these lovely intaglios.
Condition:
In really excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 9 cm x Width 20 cm x Depth 32 cm
Dimensions in inches:
Height 3 inches x Width 8 inches x Depth 1 foot, 1 inch
Our reference: A2245
Please feel free to email or call us (+44 20 8809 9605) to arrange a viewing in our North London warehouse.
