Amorino with a Garland
ca. 1860–70
Medium
Onyx and gold
Dimensions
Visible cameo, overall: 1 3/8 x 1 1/16 x 7/16 in. (3.6 x 2.7 x 1.1 cm), 35.5 x 27.2 x 11.2 mm; Overall (in setting): 2 1/16 x 1 3/4 in. (5.2 x 4.4 cm)
Classification
Lapidary Work-Gems
Culture
Italian, Rome
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Milton Weil Collection, 1940
Accession Number
40.20.35
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the glittering tradition of Roman lapidary arts, *Amorino with a Garland* is a exquisite cameo crafted by Giovanni Antonio Girardet around 1860–70. This tiny masterpiece, carved from onyx and mounted in gold, depicts a playful amorino—a chubby, winged putto reminiscent of Renaissance cherubs—holding a garland of flowers. Measuring just 1 3/8 x 1 1/16 inches in its visible cameo form, it exemplifies the precision of 19th-century gem carving, where artisans in Rome transformed layered stones into intimate jewels for Europe's elite. Girardet's work reflects Rome's resurgence as a hub ...