32 ACCOUNTS, ESTIMATES, &C. OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



(25.) Onyx, three layers ; fragment of a winged Pegasus ; a very beautiful stone. From 

 the De la Turbie Collection. 



(26.) Onyx, two layers, broken ; Satyr giving drink to a panther. From the Strozzi 

 Collection. 



(27.) Onyx; Comic Mask. 



(28.) Carnelian ; Head of Satyr, to the front. 



Intaglios. — (l.) Head of Hercules, in blue beryl, inscribed FNAIOC. This is perhaps ihe 

 most beautiful intaglio in the Blacas Collection. It was originally in the Strozzi Cabinet, 

 and has been often published. It is highly praised by '^V inckelmann, "Geschichte d. Kunst," 

 vii. 1, § 41, p. 260. Visconti, in his " Esposizione dell' Impronte del Pruicipe Chigi," p. 218, 

 No. 210, describes it as "una deile |)iu sorprendenti incision! che ci iacciaii fede dell' arte 

 antica . . capo d'opera dell' artefice Gneo, c stato piu volte edito e serve tiUta via d'un 

 preclaro ornamento aila Dattilioteca Strozziana.'' Kohler praises the refinement and tender- 

 ness of the execution and ihe rich and varied composition of the hair, though he thinks that 

 the panegyric ofVisconu is exaggerated, and that some of the details are a little overwrought. 

 The inscription FNAIOC is considered by Dr. Brunn as genuine, though Kohler condemns 

 it as modern, on grounds which appear to be insufficient. This mtaglio was discovered 

 as early as 1506, at which date it is mentioned by Faber in his " Illustrium Imagines," 

 p. 66, who, on account of the inscription FNAIOC, supprsed it to be tjie signet 

 ring of Pompey. It subsequently passed from the hands of Andreirn, a Florentine 

 collector into the Strozzi Cabinet. On the sale of this cabinet to the Due de Blacas, 

 this gem disappeared, having, it is said, been stolen by the person who packed the 

 gems. Many years afterwards, it reappeared in the Sctiellersheim Collection, and was pur- 

 chased by Baron Roger, and, after passmg tiirough the hands of two other French collectors, 

 was acquired by the Due de Blacas in 1858, and thus finally restored to the Strozzi 

 Collection. 



(2.) A -Head of Medusa, in chalcedony, nearly 1^% inches in length by 1 inch diameter. 

 This intaglio, as Kohler justly remarks, vol. iii., p. 129, is one of the most celebrated gems 

 extant. Winckelmann, '' Geschichte d. Kunst," vol. 2, § 20, pp. 167-8, records the fact that it 

 was found near the Convent of S. S. Giovanni e Paolo, on (he CcElian Mount, at Rome, and 

 that it passed into the hands of Marc Antonio Sabbatiai. After having been at one time 

 the property of Cardinal Albani, it was ultimately acquired bv the Strozzi family, of whose 

 cabinet it lono; formed one of the chief ornaments. The exact date of its discovery is not 

 known, but it must have been before the yenr 1709, when it was pubhshed in Maffei's 

 " Gemme Antiche Figurate," iv. PI. 28, p. 38, and the gold mounting seems at least a 

 century older. It is inscribed with the name Solon which, in the oiiinion of Dr. Brunn, 

 may be the name of the engraver of the gem. This intaglio is remarkable for the size and 

 quality (>f the stone, and still inore for the elaborate refinement and mastery of the execution. 

 The style will remind the numismatist of tlie beautiful coins of Mithradates, to vvho-e 

 period this gem may belong. 



(3.) Mask of Pan, in amethyst, inscribed SKYAAS. Of this intaglio, Kohler says, vol. iii. 

 p. 74, '• This mask mny be considered one of the greatest masterpieces of ancient art, not only 

 on account of the genius of the conception, but of the spirit and thoroughness of the execu- 

 tion." He acknowledges the genuineness of the inscription, but thinks it denotes the owner, 

 not the artist. This intaglio is particularly interesting on account of the depth of the cutting. 

 It was formerly in the Strozzi Collection, and has been published by Gori, Mus. Flor. ii. 

 PI. ix, fig. 3, and in several other works cited by Brunn, vol. li. p. 580, 



(4.) Head of Medusa, in carnelian. This beautiful intaglio is noted by the Due de 

 Blacas in his catalogue, as one of the finest gems in his collection. It was in the Strozzi 

 Collection, and is published by Gori, Mus. Flor. ii. PI. c. fig. 3., Tresor de INumism. ct 

 de Glypt. N. Gal. Myth., PI. xxvii. fig. 10. The high praise which V/inckeimann (vii. l, 

 § 41, p. 260) bestowed on this gem is confirmed by Kohler, vol. in. p. 132. 



(5.) Head of Medusa, on an amethyst ; a most beautiful intaglio, representing Medusa 

 with the eyes closed as if in sleep. In front of the head are the remains of letters in which 

 some have attempted to read the name of the celebrated artist, Pyrgoteles. 



(6.) Fragment of head of ^sculapius on a carnelian ; in front of the head, the mame 

 AYAOY. This gem, according to Stosch, passed in his time successively from the Buoi;- 

 compagni Cabinet to that of Prince Ludovisi, and thence into the Strozzi Collection. It 

 has been frequently published, and is highly praised by Millin and Visconti, the latter of 

 whom (Opere Varie, ed. Labus, Milan, 1829, ii. p. 177), calls it " Frammento nobilissimo." 

 The name on this gem may be that of one of its ancient possessors. 



(7.) Bust of Victory on carnelian, a beautiful intagho from the Strozzi Cabinet, published 

 by Gori, Mus. Flor. ii. PI. Iv. fig. 3. This is classed by Kohler, vol. iii. p. 302, among the 

 finest in the Strozzi Collection. 



(8.) Apollo Citliaroedus, his right elbow resting on a small draped female figure ; deeply 

 cut on a beautiful jacynth. The attitude of this figure is very similar to that of the statue 



