Kate Flitcroft
Co-Head of Department UK
Lot 42
HARDSTONE INTAGLIO, POSSIBLY BY NATHANIEL MARCHANT, LATE 18TH CENTURY
26 April 2023, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£2,000 - £3,000
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Jennifer Tonkin
Co-Head of Department UK
Charlotte Glyde
Specialist Consultant
HARDSTONE INTAGLIO, POSSIBLY BY NATHANIEL MARCHANT, LATE 18TH CENTURY
The oval agate plaque, carved to depict St Susana in profile, a lock of hair draping over her neck, claw-set in a later ring mount, intaglio 2.0cm, ring size K ½
Footnotes
Nathaniel Marchant (1739-1816) was arguably the most famous gem engraver of the 19th century, being prolific in both Italy and England. He was gem sculptor to The Prince of Wales and engraver to The King.
A similar cornelian intaglio of Saint Susanna by Nathaniel Marchant is recorded in the collection of George, 4th Duke of Marlborough. The portrait is modelled on a statue of St Susanna by Flemish sculptor, Francesco Quesnoy, commonly called 'Il Fiammingo' (The Flemish), a cast of which was known to have been in the Duke of Richmond's gallery.
In his 1870 catalogue 'The Marlborough Gems', Professor Story-Maskelyne documents a chalcedony intaglio depicting 'the head of Susannah' by Marchant, which is noted in the handwriting of the Duke as being 'a copy from a work by Fiammingo'.
