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a picture of a picture of a woman ' s head in a gold framean old silver coin with a head of a woman on itan image of a red and gold ring with a woman ' s profilean image of a picture of a woman ' s head in a gold framean image of a picture of a woman ' s head in a gold frame
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37 - IMPORTANT INTALIA: PORTRAIT OF A JULIO-CLAUDIAN EMPEROR (AUG…
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Estimate €4,000 - €6,000
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Description
IMPORTANT INTALIA: PORTRAIT OF A JULIO-CLAUDIAN EMPEROR (AUGUSTUS OR TIBERIUS) Sardinian In an 18th–19th-century gilded paper frame Total height 2.7 cm Intaglio 1.8 x 2.4 x 0.4 cm Post-classical period, 17th–18th centuries Oval in shape, the intaglio is engraved in relief with a laureated imperial bust facing left, rendered in the idealised style of the Julio-Claudian dynasty: a smooth forehead, a prominent nose, a small mouth, an exposed nape of the neck, and hair arranged in short locks across the forehead, encircled by a laurel wreath tied with a ribbon whose ends fall in loops. The engraving, firm and deep, makes full use of the thickness of the sard; when struck, the portrait acquires the relief and authority of an ancient intaglio. The identification of the portrait rightly oscillates between Augustus and Tiberius. Both effigies stem from the same classical idealisation—a youthful, smooth face, regular features, comma-shaped locks of hair on the forehead, a laurel wreath—Tiberius having modelled his official image on that of his adoptive father; distinguishing between them is thus one of the most delicate tasks in imperial iconography, whether on coins or engraved stones. Here, the straight, firm nose, the well-defined chin and the arrangement of the locks of hair could be attributed to either one, without any decisive feature — neither the pattern of ‘fork-and-pincer’ curls characteristic of the Augustan type, nor any inscription — to settle the matter. We shall therefore, cautiously, regard this as a portrait of a Julio-Claudian emperor, either Augustus or Tiberius. The ‘all’antica’ revival of imperial effigies enjoyed enduring popularity from the 16th to the 18th century, from the cabinets of the late Renaissance to the collections of the Grand Tour, with the series of the Twelve Caesars occupying a prominent place, appearing in the form of medals, busts and engraved stones. Preserved within its gilded paper cornice — a presentation typical of antique cabinets — this intaglio forms part of this scholarly tradition. Comparanda For the ancient prototype of this type Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, no. 1994.230.7 (gold ring with a carnelian intaglio, Tiberius, Roman, Tiberian period, c. 14–37 AD) fig. 1 For the portrait of Tiberius, 16th–17th centuries - 16th-century intaglio portrait of Tiberius, British Museum, 1890,0901.94 (Fig. 2) - Paoletti impression, 18th century, no. 101 (Fig. 3) For the portrait of Augustus - Sardonyx cameo by Dioscurides, portrait of Augustus, Cabinet des Médailles, Cameo.234 (fig. 4) - 18th-century gold ring with an intaglio on jasper, British Museum, 1867,0507.482, portrait of Augustus (fig. 5) - Sardian intaglio depicting the portrait of Augustus, 18th century, British Museum, 1913,0307.257 (fig. 6) An important Post-Classical Sard intaglio. Portrait of a Julio-Claudian Emperor (Augustus or Tiberius). 17th–18th century.
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About the sale FROM CAESAR TO CAESAR
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Auction time 07/08/2026 at 3:00 PM
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