Italian, circa 1800 | Cameo with Cupid

Rose Eleanor Jebb (d. 1962);
Chenel collection, Paris

This beautiful cameo depicting the seated Cupid holding the wreath of victory is inspired by ancient Roman depictions of the god of love seated, such as the 1st-century cameo in the collection of the Duke of Northumberland at Alnwick Castle, published in D. Scarisbrick, C. Wagner and J. Boardman, The Beverley Collection of Gems at Alnwick Castle, London, 2017, p. 55, no. 48. The Chenel cameo has a distinctly Neoclassical flavour and is reminiscent of the works of Antonio Canova and Bertel Thorvaldsen. A further comparison can be found in the gem with Mars and Cupid published in D. Scarisbrick, C. Wagner and J. Boardman, The Guy Ladrière Collection of Gems and Rings, London, 2016, p. 100, no. 105.