A ROMAN CARNELIAN INTAGLIO OF A STANDING MERCURY, CIRCA 2ND-3RD CENTURY A.D.

拍品描述

A ROMAN CARNELIAN INTAGLIO OF A STANDING MERCURY, CIRCA 2ND-3RD CENTURY A.D. This fine Roman carnelian intaglio depicts Mercury (Hermes), the messenger god, standing nude and shown in profile. The god holds a caduceus (staff entwined with serpents) in his left hand and a money pouch in his right — attributes that emphasize his dual role as patron of commerce and divine herald. Mercury’s pose conveys both elegance and vitality, characteristic of Imperial Roman glyptic art during the 2nd–3rd centuries A.D. The figure’s Phrygian cap, a common symbol of his swiftness and travel, crowns his head, while his athletic form reflects the Roman idealization of the human body. The gemstone’s translucent reddish-orange hue enhances the crisp engraving, suggesting the work of a skilled artisan familiar with both Classical iconography and refined lapidary technique. Intaglios such as this were often set in rings and used to seal documents, identifying their owner through divine association. Length: 1.9cm

图片