Italian, late 18th century

The Strozzi Medusa by the ancient Green engraver Solon is one of the most famous glyptics to survive from antiquity. It is today in the British Museum, London (inv. no. 1867,0507.389), and was formerly owned by Cardinal Alessandro Albani, Count Leo Strozzi and Louis, duc de Blacas d'Aulp. The model was copied in the 18th and early 19th centuries, and was published by Edward Burch in his catalogue of casts in 1795. Compare with with carnelian after the Strozzi Medusa in the Royal Collection, acquired by George III in 1762 from Joseph Smith of Venice (inv. no. RCIN65829).

RELATED LITERATURE

K. Aschengreen Piacenti and J. Boardman, Ancient and Modern Gems and Jewels in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen, London, 2008, p. 164, no. 260