Large shell cameo of the Madonna with Child, Italy ca. 1850

The present brooch shows the Madonna and child next to a curtain and probably follows a painting from the years of the Italian Renaissance. Mother and child wear halos and while the Madonna is wrapped in a simple, slightly translucent dress, the child is depicted naked. Both figures appear calm and content. The cameo was carved in great detail in shell by an Italian artist in the years around 1850. Especially the region around the Bay of Naples was the center of cameo carving art and its works were famous for their extraordinary quality. The composition and the intimate relationship between Mary and Jesus are beautifully rendered and shine in the warm tone of the shell. Presumably, the cameo was acquired by an English traveler to Italy who visited the country on a so-called Grand Tour, as we discovered it in London. The classic educational tour was an integral part for all members of the Victorian upper class. A special highlight was always the visit to the city of Florence. There at the birthplace of the Renaissance, the world-famous collections such as the Uffizi were studied and the works of art left a lasting impression. Souvenirs from the sunny south were indispensable souvenirs and told those at home about the humanistic education of their bearers. It was probably only in England that the cameo with the Madonna was given a gold setting and made wearable as a brooch. This brooch is a special piece with its own cultural history, but at the same time it is not only historically interesting, but also touches the heart of every observer today, because the Madonna with the Child is also a representative of motherly love itself.

Estimate:$1,338.2

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