A collection of ten intaglios, formerly belonging to Prince Stanislas PoniatowskiThe ten carnelian gems carved to depict classical figures and scenes, all gilt-mounted onto velvet plaques, one intaglio chipped, lengths 3.2cm - 4.5cm (10)注脚Prince Stanislas Poniatowski (1754-1833), nephew of the last King of Poland, went into affluent exile in Italy in 1791. He was a passionate collector of antiquities and commissioned an extraordinary series of around 2500 intaglios, encouraging the belief that the gems were ancient engravings. The group of contemporary gem-engravers who produced them in Rome signed them with known or invented signatures. In 1830, Poniatowski published a catalogue of his gems before releasing two further versions containing more elaborate descriptions in 1833. When his collection was offered for sale by Christie's in London after his death, connoisseurs and potential buyers were outraged to discover that the gems were 'modern' and the sale was largely derided. All of the gems have since been widely dispersed. Today, they're appreciated in their own right as fine examples of neo-classical gem-engraving.

Provenance:
Prince Stanislas Poniatowski
Christie's, London, 1839
Private Collections, and thence to the current owner

Literature:
Poniatowski, S., Catalogue des pierres graves 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, H. Graves for the proprietor, London, 1841

i) Minerva appearing in a dream to Pericles, signed 'Kromos'
Poniatowski, no I.220; Christie's, 1839, no 86; Prendeville, no 145, Lord Monson,
Christie's, London, 9th June 1851, lot 2

ii) Hercules Musagete, signed 'Kromos'
Poniatowski, no II.364; Christie's, 1839, no 2195; Prendeville, no 456

iii) Minerva and Mars retired from the battlefield and seated on the bank of the Scamander, signed 'Gnaios'
Poniatowski, no V.68; Christie's, 1839, no 1414

iv) Neptune carrying off Salamina towards his chariot drawn by dolphins, signed 'Apollonides'
Poniatowski, no I.126; Christie's, 1839, no 1076; Prendeville, no 84

v) Ceres escaping from Neptune, signed 'Apollonides'
Poniatowski, no I.119; Christie's, 1839, no 2364; Prendeville, no 79

vi) Minerva transforming Ulysses into an old man, signed 'Apollonides'
Poniatowski, no VI.64; Christie's, 1839, no 384; Prendeville, no 1039

vii) Juno recruiting Argus to guard Io, signed 'Teuker'
Poniatowski, no I.75; Christie's, 1839, no 785; Prendeville, no 55
A paste version was sold by Doyle auctioneers, New York on 20th June 2013, lot 25

viii) Prudence, signed 'Gnaios'
Poniatowski, no II.169; Christie's, 1839, no 2038; Prendeville, no 323

ix) Hercules killing Augeas, signed 'Kromos'
Poniatowski, no II.252; Christie's, 1839, no 2384; Prendeville, no 371

x) Mercury transforming Aglauros to stone, signed 'Kromos'
Poniatowski, no I.333; Christie's, 1839, no 232; Prendeville, no 214