Intaglio Depicting a Horse
Intaglio: 1st century Setting: date unknown (modern)
Medium
Intaglio: sardonyx Setting: gold
Dimensions
1.5 × 2.4 × 2.5 cm (1/2 × 15/16 × 1 in.)
Classification
ring (jewelry)
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
109604
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Engraved or carved gemstones (intaglios) were commonly incorporated into signet rings and could be pressed into wax or clay to function as a personal or official seal. The resulting impression created an image in relief that was the reverse of the carving. The many examples of engraved gems that survive today reflect a broad range of subjects and levels of artistic skill, which varied depending on the owner’s taste and financial means.
About the Artist
Ancient Roman
The artists attributed to "Ancient Roman" in museum collections represent the anonymous craftsmen who produced the vast output of sculpture, frescoes, mosaics, and reliefs defining Roman visual culture from the Republic (c. 509–27 BCE) to the late Empire (c. 395 CE). Individual identities remain elusive, as Roman makers were typically viewed as skilled tradesmen—often enslaved Greeks or provincial...