Cupid before Jupiter amid Clouds

Unknown

late 17th century · Argonite · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Unlike most of the other stones discussed here, this opaque blue-green mineral, a uranium-bearing aragonite, is soft and was easily worked to encourage generously rounded shapes. The hearty style lent itself to the embellishment of rich domestic furnishings such as cabinets. A cameo with Neptune and Galatea, larger but otherwise identical to this one in signature and workmanship, was on the Amsterdam antiques market in 1974.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 17th century

Medium

Argonite

Culture

Netherlandish

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

The Milton Weil Collection, 1939