Gold, silver, emerald, diamonds.
Length 49.5 mm; width 33 mm; height 8 mm.
Intaglio signed in Cyrillic letters by Johann Caspar Jäger (active St. Petersburg 1772-80).
On display
Length 49.5 mm; width 33 mm; height 8 mm.
Intaglio signed in Cyrillic letters by Johann Caspar Jäger (active St. Petersburg 1772-80).
Although the German-born Johann Caspar Jäger made his reputation as court medallist creating medals glorifying Empress Ekaterina II's reign, this fine portrait shows that he was also a talented gem engraver. As is well known, during her long reign, the Empress assembled a great collection of ancient and Renaissance cameos and intaglios, but also encouraged contemporary artists. To this end, she appointed Jäger to teach the art of gem engraving in the Medallic department of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts (of which she was patron), not only using hardstones but the more resistant precious emeralds and sapphires for Imperial portraiture, as shown here.
Jäger succeeded in evoking the majestic appearance of the Empress, depicting her as described in 1795 by the French artist, Elizabeth Louise Vigée Lebrun: “although not tall, with her erect head, eagle eye and countenance so used to command, she looked as if she were queen of the world”.
Jäger succeeded in evoking the majestic appearance of the Empress, depicting her as described in 1795 by the French artist, Elizabeth Louise Vigée Lebrun: “although not tall, with her erect head, eagle eye and countenance so used to command, she looked as if she were queen of the world”.
On display