But many and very many years passed over during v^hich the art was lost, no one occupying himself therewith, or, if at times anything was done, it was not in a manner which renders the result worthy to be taken into account, and, so far as is known, it was not until the time of Pope Martin V. and Pope Paul II., that any one was found who began to do well in this matter, or to effect anything in a good manner; but after that period there was a gradual progress down to the time of the Magnificent Lorenzo de’ Medici, who took much pleasure in the engravings of antique cameos, and between himself and his son Piero, a large number was collected, more particularly chalcedonies, carnelians, and other stones of value, beautifully cut, and exhibiting a great variety of fanciful subjects.
They then resolved to attempt the establishment of this art in their city, and to that end they invited masters from divers countries, when these men not only restored the stones which Lorenzo or Piero then possessed, but executed many other beautiful works of the kind at that time and in that city. With these masters Lorenzo the Magnificent placed a young Florentine, to the end that he might acquire the art of engraving in cavo, and who afterwards received the name of Giovanni of the Carnelians, for the admirable manner in which he cut those stones. Of his excellence in this vocation we have ample testimony in the various works, small and great, by his hand, which are still to be seen, but most particularly from a large one wherein he carved the portrait of Girolamo Savonarola, who in his time was adored in Florence for the sermons which he preached there. This is indeed a most extraordinary work.[1]
A rival of Giovanni was the Milanese, Domenico of the Cameos,[2] by whom the portrait of Ludovico il Moro, wlio was then living, was taken m cavo, on a pale red or balas ruby, larger than a Giulio.[3] This was a beautiful thing, and one of the best engravings executed by a modern master
- ↑ Now in the Florentine Gallery; the head of Fra Girolamo is in profile, and bears the legend, hieronymus ferrariensis. ord. praed. propheta. vir. et martyr. The Celebrated engraver of gems, Johann Pikler, considers this work to be not unworthy of the best Greek master.
- ↑ Domenico Compagni. Three letters from this artist to the Cav. Gaddi, will be found in the Lettere Pittoriche, tom. iii.
- ↑ A coin so called.
