gems, glyptic, engraved gems, agate, cameo, intaglio, shell, ancient gems, Rome, Greece, ancient jewelry, rings

A short antiquarian study by Carlo Bianconi devoted to an ancient cameo representing Jupiter. Bianconi examines the engraved gem’s subject and iconography, interpreting the figure through comparison with classical literature, mythology and ancient works of art. The work reflects the close relationship between glyptic studies, classical archaeology and connoisseurship in the early nineteenth century, when engraved gems were important evidence for understanding ancient religion and artistic imagery. It is of particular interest to gemology for its documentation and interpretation of an ancient cameo and to the history of collecting and the study of classical engraved gems.