GLASS CAMEO, MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI. POSSIBLY VENICE, 19TH CENTURY.

Cameo or intaglio. Glass. Possibly Venice, 19th century. Cameo or intaglio made of glass following the model of the Florentine cameos of around 1810 showing the profile of Michelangelo Buonarroti looking to the right, made by Gionanni Antonio Santarelli (whose surname appears engraved on this piece). This portrait of the sculptor was a well-known image since the Renaissance thanks to engravings such as Giulio Bonasona (attributed to Enea Vico, Italy, 16th century) which is preserved in the Cleveland Museum of Art, etc. There are known examples of shell cameos with the same image, preserved in private collections, dating from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, because it was a highly prized image to buy as a souvenir by those who made the Grand Tour of Italy.

· Size: 2,9x0,2x2,8 cms