Antonio Berini, Cameo In Agate Nineteenth, Profile Of Christ

Superb agate cameo representing the three-quarter profile of Christ and signed by Antonio Berini (1770-1861).
it is a large cameo dating from the first half of the 19th century mounted in a gold brooch (750), and can also be worn as a pendant.
the cameo is superb, cut in a pink agate, white and translucent in the background.
the face of Christ appears in profile and emerges three quarters on the left side, the sculptor has used a great depth in the agate, which allows to see the face in its entirety.
a thick work of great dexterity.
the sculpture of this cameo is of extreme finesse: the face is magnificent, the movement and the waves of the hair and the beard as well as the crown of thorns, everything is of great precision and plays with the colors of the agate.
Christ wears a tunic whose drape is accentuated by the movement of the veins of the agate.
there is therefore a great thickness in this cameo and the sculptor has released the background which has become translucent in the light, a cross then appears behind the face of Christ, symbolizing the ascent to Calvary. Antonio Berini's signature appears at the top right, signature engraved on the cross.
the sculptor has used the veins of this beautiful pink and white agate wonderfully, the result is fascinating and the light accentuates the contrasts which is not easy to reproduce in a photo.
the quality of the cameo is museum-like, a small masterpiece of sculpture on only a few centimeters of agate.
attention look at the photos there is a very slight lack in the tunic of Christ under his chin. this cameo is extremely delicate.
set measures 4.9cm high by 3.9cm wide. Antonio Berini was a pupil of Giovanni Pichler, born in Rome, he then worked in Milan.
he made cameos for Napoleon, some of which have left legends in history.
Fewworks by this artist have come down to us. Our hand-signed cameo is therefore a rarity. some of his works can be found in the British Museum in London, in the Cabinet des Médailles at the National Library of France.
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