Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Pichler Workshop from Germany to Rome

Giovanni Pichler
Cameo - Minerva
before 1791
onyx
British Museum

Giovanni Pichler
Cameo - Ulysses
before 1791
onyx
British Museum

The patriarch of the Pichler empire was Anton (1697-1779), a German gem-cutter who migrated to Naples, and then to Rome in 1743, where he was known as Antonio and gained great fame for the precision-beauty of his craft. Antonio trained his son Giovanni (1734-1791) as a worthy successor. Then in 1773 after he was past 75 Antonio fathered another son, Luigi  39 years the junior of Giovanni, his brother. Luigi was still a small child when Antonio died, but loyal Giovanni saw him raised as another worthy successor and accomplished artist. Luigi then carried forward the family business of classically-inspired luxury gem-cutting in Rome until his retirement in 1850, more than 100 years after his own father had founded the house.

Giovanni Pichler
Intaglio - Draped female figure, possibly Urania
before 1791
 sard
British Museum

Luigi Pichler
Intaglio - Venus crouching in water
before 1850
sard
British Museum

Luigi Pichler
Intaglio - Helmeted warrior
before 1850
carnelian
British Museum

Giovanni Pichler
Cameo - Bust of a Roman, possibly Vespasian
before 1791
onyx
British Museum

Giovanni Pichler
Cameo - Niobe
before 1791
sardonyx
British Museum

Giovanni Pichler
Cameo - Homer
before 1791
onyx
British Museum

Giovanni Pichler
Intaglio - Brutus
before 1791
sardonyx
British Museum

Luigi Pichler
Intaglio - Omphale wearing Nemean lion-skin
before 1850
sard
British Museum

attributed to Giovanni Pichler
Cameo - Cupid on dolphin with lyre
before 1791
onyx
British Museum

Giovanni Pichler
Cameo - Cupid in chains
before 1791
onyx
British Museum

Luigi Pichler
Intaglio - Profile of a girl
before 1850
amethyst
British Museum

Pichler Workshop
Intaglio - Bearded man
18th century
sard
British Museum