Amethyst Glass Intaglio: The Story of Apollo

A fine glass intaglio signed with the name of the creator, C. (Charles) Brown, (1749-1795) telling the story of Apollo.

1 1/8 in x 3/4 inch x d: 1/2 inch

From Ovid’s epic “Metamorphoses”. Apollo, having slain the dragon of Delphi with a thousand arrows, then mocks the toy-like weapons of Cupid, son of Venus. In anger Cupid pierces the heart of Apollo with a golden arrow, causing him to fall passionately in love with Daphne, a sworn virgin. Cupid then shot Daphne with an arrow of lead, causing her to further loathe all things amorous. Apollo relentlessly pursues Daphne until her father turns her into a laurel tree in order to save her.

Charles and his bother William were amongst the most important engravers of gemstones working in England from around 1760. William exhibited at the Society of Arts from 1766 until 1770 from which date they exhibited jointly at the Royal Academy, until 1785.
From 1786 until the death of Charles in 1795 they ceased exhibiting with at least half of the brothers’ output, numbering some 200 cameos and intaglios, being sent to the court of Catherine the Great in Moscow where they remain to this day.