Details

COLEM:1926.5240

Colchester Collections

Modern intaglio of Diomedes, nude, apart from his chlamys draped over his left arm. He is depicted clambering over the altar of Athena at Troy, which is festooned with a garland. His left leg is bent beneath him, but his right is extended. He holds the palladium in his left hand and a short sword in his right. Behind is a tree, and below a thick ground line. This is a very famous subject, Roman examples include the famous cornelian intaglio signed by Augustus’ gem-cutter Dioskourides (see Vollenweider 1966: 115, Taf.62). There are examples of Roman Imperial date from Dorchester, Dorset and Owmby, Lincolnshire (see Henig 2007: 147, Pl. XIV, Nos. 441 and 442). The style, and the pretty inclusion of a tree suggests that this is neo-classical, eighteenth century in date (see Vollenweider 1966:125, Taf.97, Abb.5 (signed by L. Pichler) and 125, Taf.98, Abb.7 and 9 (copy of the Dioskourides original)).

Modern

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