Portrait of Luigi Sommariva
citrine 1820, gold suspension loop probably contemporary with intaglio
Medium
Engraved citrine in a gold suspension loop
Dimensions
Overall (confirmed): 2 1/4 × 1 3/4 × 5/8 in. (5.7 × 4.5 × 1.5 cm)
Classification
Natural Substances
Culture
Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, The Isaacson-Draper Foundation Gift, 2016
Accession Number
2016.488
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This exquisite engraved citrine pendant, titled *Portrait of Luigi Sommariva*, captures the refined elegance of early nineteenth-century European gem engraving. Created around 1820 by Italian artist Giovanni Beltrami, likely after a design by French painter Robert Jacques Louis Lefèvre, the work depicts its subject in profile within a translucent golden stone. Set in a contemporary gold suspension loop, the piece measures just over two inches tall, suggesting it was worn as a personal ornament or commemorative token. Gem engraving enjoyed a revival during the Neoclassical period, when collectors prized the ancient technique of carving intaglios into hardstones like citrine. Beltrami’s precise hand transformed the quartz’s crystalline surface into a lasting likeness, blending Italian craftsmanship with French portrait traditions. Such miniatures often honored notable figures or marked significant relationships, transforming natural materials into intimate works of art. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2016 through the Isaacson-Draper Foundation, this pendant highlights the enduring appeal of engraved gems as both jewelry and historical record. Its classification among natural substances underscores the museum’s appreciation for the dialogue between geology and human artistry.
About the Artist
Giovanni Beltrami|Robert Jacques Louis Lefévre (Italian|Italian) · 1770 |1791 –1854 |1882
Italian, Cremona 1770 or 1777–1854 Cremona|Italian, Venice 1791–1882 Milan