Italian, 18th century

The cameo depicts the sea goddess Amphitrite, consort of Poseidon, reclining in her shell, he drapery billowing above her head all'antica. The subject was popular in the 18th century; see, for example, Charles-Joseph Natoire's Triumph of Amphitrite in the National Museum, Warsaw (M.Ob.689). The present cameo finds comparisons in Tassie/ Raspe, nos. 2617 and 2618; the former was included by Thomas Worlidge in his A Select Collection of Drawings From Curious Antique Gems (1788) (collection of Lord Clanbrasil).