An important collection of Neoclassical intaglios. Provenance: Prince Stanislas Poniatowski

AN IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF ONE-HUNDRED HARDSTONE NEOCLASSICAL INTAGLIOS, NINETY-EIGHT OF WHICH WERE FORMERLY IN THE COLLECTION OF PRINCE STANISLAS PONIATOWSKI (1754-1833)

Each intaglio carved in carnelian, sardonyx, amethyst or chalcedony to depict a classical scene, with majority with Greek pseudo signature, each with an electrotype cast, in two wooden and Perspex frames each containing 50 intaglios and together with a hardbound reference catalogue with slipcase

Provenance:
Prince Stanislas Poniatowski
Christie's, London, 1839
John Tyrell Esq.
Various private collections
Property of a private lady. Inherited from her father in 1999. He purchased the gems from Collingwood, Conduit Street in 1973, who commissioned the electrotype casts, compiled the reference catalogue and mounted them on display boards.

Reference literature:
- Catalogue des pierres gravés antiques de S.A. le Prince Stanislas Poniatowski ([1830?]-1833)
-Prendeville, J.: Explanatory catalogue of the proof-impressions of the antique gems possessed by the late Prince Poniatowski and now in the possession of John Tyrrell, Esq. (1841)
- Platz-Horster,G.: L'antica maniera. Zeichnungen und Gemmen des Giovanni Calandrelli in der Antikensammlung Berlin (2005)

Please note that we have used the subject descriptions as per the Beazley Archive, which differ from the hardbound reference catalogue that accompanies this lot.

With thanks to Dr Claudia Wagner of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford for her assistance with research for our comparative references to the Beazley Archive.

PRINCE STANISLAS PONIATOWSKI (1754 - 1833)

Prince Poniatowski was the nephew of the last King of Poland. He was well educated and developed a keen interest in the arts including Classical mythology. He emigrated to Italy at the end of the 18th century and after the Partition of Poland where he lived in Rome and Florence.

It was here in the early 19th century that he commissioned over 2500 hardstone intaglios to be carved in the Classical manner, in the spirit of the Grand Tour.

The skilled gem engravers who included Luigi Pichler (1773 - 1854) and Giovanni Calandrelli (1784-1853), were exclusively influenced by Classical literature, especially the works of Homer, Virgil and Ovid rather than the many ancient Classical representations which had inspired so much Neoclassical art. Together with their stylistic interpretation of the subjects, this gave them a distinct originality and a unique visual language.

Poniatowski did little to discourage the misconception that his gems were Classical and used contemporary Greek pseudo signatures. He published two catalogues of his gems and his collection was sold after his death at a Christie's auction in 1839. The deception was exposed and the gems were recognised and spurned as 'modern'; with the majority being acquired by John Tyrrell. The collection was subsequently split and has been widely dispersed ever since. The intaglios being offered now are probably the largest collection of Poniatowski intaglios to be offered at auction since the mid 19th century.