The Betrayal of Christ

About this artwork

Born in Vicenza, Belli worked in Rome as a successful crystal and gem engraver, goldsmith, and medalist. His bronze plaquettes come almost without exception from crystal or hardstone carvings. This particular plaquette directly derives from a rock crystal intaglio by Belli bearing the same inscription in the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, which originally was mounted with two other oval medallions of Christ Carrying the Cross and the Entombment in the silver-gilt base of a rock crystal crucifix...