Italian, Rome, late 18th century

This engraved intaglio likely follows the Emperor Hadrian's portrait from an aureas (gold coin). Compare with the aureas with Hadrian, unwreathed and cloaked, in the Harvard Art Museums, dating to circa 125-128 AD (inv. no. 1972.251). A 16th-century sapphire intaglio with Hadrian was sold at Bertolami, London, 9 November 2018, lot 312