PROBABLY ITALIAN, SECOND HALF 16TH CENTURY | CAMEO WITH A YOUNG WOMAN, THOUGHT TO BE MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

Auction Closed

January 21, 06:17 PM GMT

Estimate

4,000 - 6,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

LUGGALA, PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE HON. GARECH BROWNE

PROBABLY ITALIAN, SECOND HALF 16TH CENTURY

CAMEO WITH A YOUNG WOMAN, THOUGHT TO BE MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

agate, in a late 17th-century partially enamelled silver diamond set pendant mount

monogrammed: MS to the reverse

cameo: 2.2cm., ⅞in.

3.8cm., 1½in. overall

Note that the cameo is very similar to another depicting Mary Queen of Scots in the Cabinet des Medailles in Paris. This strengthens the identification of the sitter of the present gem as Mary Queen of Scots. See online note for more information.

The costume worn by the young lady in this charming cameo portrait is similar to that seen on a bust attributed to Domenico Poggini (1520-1590) and said to represent Lucrezia Pucci Ridolfi (1540-1568) in the Bargello in Florence (inv. no. 82). The identification of the sitter of the present gem as Mary Queen of Scots is strengthened by a comparison with a very similar cameo depicting the young Queen in the Cabinet des Medailles in Paris which is illustrated in D. Scarisbrick, 'Treasured in Adversity: The Jewels of Mary Stuart-II,' Country Life, 10 June 1982, figs. 5 and 6.