Alexander the Great by Cerbara

A superb hardstone cameo of Alexander the Great, signed Cerbara

By Giuseppe Cerbara (1770-1856).

As there were at least three Cerbara engraving gems, Grandfather, his son and grandson, all using the same signature, it is usually difficult to differentiate between the possible artist. However, in this case the provenance, and thus specific artist, is clear.

Mounted in a gold fine collet as a brooch c.1810

Provenance:
One of 12 gems commissioned by Pierre-Louis Jean Casimir, Count of Blacas d'Aulps (10 January 1771 – 17 November 1839)

P. Hoogendijk (Netherlands?)

Bibliography:
Paoletti, tomo VI, cassetto 7, #274

”Un Academico di Merito di San Luca - Giuseppe Cerbara”, by Silvana de Caro Balbi, 1974, p.25 #4

There are two cameos by Cerbara in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna:

One is Alexander the Great, described in Paoletti as a replica of this gem
https://www.khm.at/objektdb/detail/74369/?offset=1&lv=list

Though it is notable that my example is substantially larger and better, it really is lovely in the hand.

The other Hercules:
https://www.khm.at/objektdb/detail/74360/?offset=0&lv=list

There are also examples by Cerbara in the Royal Collections, British Museum and Metropolitan Museum