Antique Pair Box Framed Grand Tour Giovanni Liberotti Intaglios 19th C

An elegant pair of giltwood frames each enclosing twelve plaster Grand Tour Giovanni Liberotti intaglios dating from the early 19th Century.

The oval plaster intaglios feature predominantly portrait busts of Roman emperor's and philosophers.

The intaglios are beautifully mounted on a plush black ground in a rectangular glazed and giltwood box frame

Add a beautiful classical element to your home with this delightful framed collection.

Condition:

In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 25.5 x Width 32.5 x Depth 4

Dimensions in inches:

Height 10 inches x Width 1 foot, 1 inch x Depth 2 inches

Giovanni Liberotti miniature plaster relief impressions of masterpieces of European art. This collection is an example of the type of souvenirs prized by the travelers of the Grand Tour. It is a small part of the museum`s gem cast collection, which is very rich in content and versatile in appearance. Gem casts were used as valuable illustrative materials in lectures.

The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary.

It served as an educational rite of passage. Though primarily associated with the British nobility and wealthy landed gentry, similar trips were made by wealthy young men of Protestant Northern European nations on the Continent, and from the second half of the 18th century some South American, U.S., and other overseas youth joined in. The tradition was extended to include more of the middle class after rail and steamship travel made the journey less of a burden.

The primary value of the Grand Tour, it was believed, lay in the exposure both to the cultural legacy of classical antiquity and the Renaissance, and to the aristocratic and fashionably polite society of the European continent. In addition, it provided the only opportunity to view specific works of art, and possibly the only chance to hear certain music. A grand tour could last from several months to several years. It was commonly undertaken in the company of a knowledgeable guide or tutor.

The Grand Tour not only provided a liberal education but allowed those who could afford it the opportunity to buy things otherwise unavailable at home, and it thus increased participants' prestige and standing. Grand Tourists would return with crates of art, books, pictures, sculpture, and items of culture, which would be displayed in libraries, cabinets, gardens, and drawing rooms, as well as the galleries built purposely for their display; The Grand Tour became a symbol of wealth and freedom.

Our reference: A3063

Internal Ref:

A3063

Date of manufacture : 19th Century