Agate Cameo portrait of William Constable.
1771, agate cameo signed Pichler in Greek letters and set into an early 19th century gold brooch.
Agate Cameo portrait of William Constable.
1771, agate cameo signed Pichler in Greek letters and set into an early 19th century gold brooch.
Accession Number
BCF 60
Location
MUSEUM
Dimensions
Agate cameo 2.9 x 2.4 cm
Classification
Numismatics
Artist
Giovanni Pichler
Date Created
1771
Indepth information
Full History
Commissioned from the artist in Rome by William Constable (1721-91); hence by descent to the Brigadier Raleigh Chichester- Constable (1890-1963); with S. J. Phillips 2001.
Giovanni Pichler (1734- 1791) was the most accomplished gem engraver working in Rome in the mid- eighteenth century. Besides specialising in Antique subjects he also produced portraits of grand tourists in cameo and intaglio. His work is documented by sets of surviving seals in the numismatic collections of the Civil Archaeological Collections of Milan representing gems carved by him, and also a catalogue of his work produced in 1790.
These portraits of William Constable and others of this sister Winifred were offered during their Grand Tour to Italy in 1769-71. Commissions were left in the charge of James Byres in Rome and various letters make reference to these patriots together with other gems carved by Giovanni Pichler and his father Anton (1697-1779). A surviving manuscript drawn up by Constable lists 30 gems with classical subjects including five by Pichler.