Pair of antique framed Italian Grand Tour plaster intaglios

Pair of antique framed Italian Grand Tour plaster intaglios
Italian, Early 19th Century
Panels: Height 25cm, width 57cm
Frames: Height 40cm, width 71cm, depth 7cm
 
This pair of early 19th-century Italian Grand Tour panels brings together fine plaster intaglios, each meticulously arranged within glazed giltwood frames to refined decorative effect. Distinguished by their diversity and harmonious composition, they reflect the neoclassical devotion to antiquity that shaped the taste of Europe’s most avid travellers.
 
Set against Latin-inscribed grounds, each panel displays a series of oval and circular intaglios depicting Classical mythological figures, ancient philosophers, and French kings. The pale plaster surfaces heighten the crispness of the modelling, while the tall, symmetrical giltwood frames lend a commanding presence and a pleasing sense of proportion.
 
Such works were among the most coveted souvenirs of the Grand Tour—the journey of study and cultivation undertaken by young aristocrats and scholars across Europe during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Intaglios served not only as mementoes of classical discovery but also as emblems of one’s own learning and taste.
 
Due to their fine quality, they become a superb addition to any collection of art.