Vintage Shell Cameo Brooch "Pax with the Horses of Mars" after Gagneraux

This vintage shell cameo depicts a mythological motif: the Genius of Peace, a young man with wings and flowing hair, is taming the horses of Mars. He holds the reins of the god of war's steeds in his hand and is about to set them free. The armor, helmet, shield and torch of the god of war have already been left behind on the ground, and the genius of peace rises proudly and confidently above them. The god of war himself, Mars, is nowhere to be seen. The means of war have been taken from him: He has been stripped of his weapons and his armor - even his warlike chariot, which brings so much suffering and disaster to the world. Peace now returns to the world. The cameo is based on a painting by the French painter Bénigne Gagneraux (*Dijon 1756, +Florence 1795). The winner of the Academy's Rome Prize specialized in history paintings, whose heroic themes he brought to the canvas in classical perfection. His painting The Genius of Peace Taming the Horses of Mars from 1793 is now kept in the Museum of the City of Geneva, see here. The shell cameo from around 1980 uses the different layers of the shell to create a relief in white and orange-brown. Its cut is routine but does not lack beautiful details. It is set in gold and came to us in Berlin.

Estimate:£671.04

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