An impressive sardonyx cameo of Minerva

細節

An impressive sardonyx cameo of Minerva
The oval stone finely carved in the three layers with the head of Minerva in profile to the right, an owl on her berried laurel helmet and with the Medusa head and entwined serpents on her scalework aegis, a spear in the field, in later translucent red enamel frame with green enamel straps and suspension ring, 1869, 7.5cm. high
Signed by Henri Louis François with date 1889

拍品專文

Henri Louis François (1841-1896) was a pupil of Bonnat and Chapu. He was an officer of the Legion d'Honneur and some of his work is in the Luxembourg Museum, Paris. M. Babélon describes him thus 'C'est un maître véritable, aussi modeste qu'habile, qui nous parâit avour, mieux que tout autre, réussi à s'inspirer des nobles traditions du XVIIIe siècle' (cf. Forrer, Biographical Dictionary of Medallists)