Venus Marina, Cupid at Her Side
ca. 1820–30
Medium
Onyx, gold
Dimensions
Visible cameo, overall: 1 13/16 x 1 3/16 in. (4.5 x 3 cm), 45.3 x 30 mm; Overall (in setting): 2 1/4 x 1 3/4 in. (5.7 x 4.4 cm)
Classification
Lapidary Work-Gems
Culture
British, London
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Milton Weil Collection, 1940
Accession Number
40.20.49
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold *Venus Marina, Cupid at Her Side*, exquisite cameo crafted by Benedetto Pistrucci 1820–30. This Italian-born engraver, who flourished in London’s vibrant artistic scene, captures the goddess of love emerging from the sea, with her son Cupid playfully at her side. Carved from onyx—a layered gemstone prized for its contrasting white relief against dark background—the intimate 1 13/16 x 1 3/16-inch visible cameo showcases Pistrucci’s mastery of lapidary work, a technique rooted in ancient Roman and Renaissance traditions but revived in the neoclassical era. Set in gold, this jewel-sized piece (2 1/4 x 1 3/4 inches overall) was likely worn as a brooch or pendant, embodying the Regency period’s fascination with classical mythology and antique gems. Pistrucci’s precision in rendering fluid drapery and tender expressions highlights his reputation as one of Britain’s finest gem engravers, rivaling the cameos of ancient masters. Part of The Milton Weil Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, it reflects the era’s blend of scholarly revival and personal adornment, inviting viewers to ponder Venus’s eternal allure. (198 words)
About the Artist
Benedetto Pistrucci · 1783–1855
Italian, 1783–1855, active England