Cameo of a Gentleman

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, *Cameo of a Gentleman* by Erastus Dow Palmer, created around 1850, captures the refined elegance of mid-19th-century portrait. This petite plaster relief, measuring just 2 x 1 1/2 inches, depicts a male profile in the classic cameo tradition—a high-relief carving evoking ancient Roman gems. Palmer, a pioneering American sculptor from upstate New York, elevated cameos from mere jewelry to fine art, often crafting them as affordable yet intricate likenesses for a burgeoning middle class. Plaster, unlike the more precious shell or s...