Getty Museum

Engraved Gem

Date

1750–1850

Medium

Chalcedony

Culture

Modern

Department

Jewelry

Institution

Getty Museum

A young warrior, naked except for his cloak, stands quietly, gazing at the helmet he holds in one hand. With his other hand he steadies a stick resting on his right shoulder. A face decorates the shield in front of him. Although similar subjects appear in many Greek and Roman examples, the details of this gem show that it cannot be ancient. The figure itself was probably based on Classical Greek works, but the visor and neck-piece of the helmet resemble a Roman gladiator's helmet. The stick over the youth's shoulder surely was meant to be a spear, but it lacks a point. The shield is the oddest element. On authentic ancient gems, a shield may be propped against the contour of the gem, but here the shield, hovering mid-air, appears about to fall over. Although heads often decorate ancient shields, a head never appears as just a face; it is always a complete head with hair. This gem was created in imitation of ancient gems; whether or not it was intended to be a deliberate forgery is unknown.

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