EXCEPTIONNELLE INTAILLE SUR AIGUE-MARINE MONTÉE EN PENDENTIF FIGURANT LE BUSTE DE NAPOLÉON IER BONAPARTE EMPEREUR, SIGNÉE SANTARELLI. Italie, première décennie du XIXème siècle Béryl (aigue-marine) ; or 22 cts Dim de l’intaille : 1,6 x 2,2 x 1,1 cm ; poids total 11,58 g AN EXCEPTIONNAL ACQUAMARINE INTAGLIO MOUNTED ON A GOLD PENDANT AND FIGURING THE BUST OF EMPEROR NAPOLEON I BONAPARTE, FIRMED SANTARELLI. ITALY, FIRST DECADE OF THE 19TH CENTURY. Napoleon I Bonaparte is turned to the left, representing his entire bust with all the attributes and decorations symbolizing his coronation. The event, in which he became Emperor of France, took place on December 2nd, 1804 at the Cathedral Notre-Dame,Paris. The effigy engraved on the aquamarine shows Bonaparte crowned with laurel, wearing a preciously embroidered robe, on which stands the great collar of the Order of the Legion of Honour (Grand Col), whose shirts are composed of miniature eagles. In front of the profile, characterized by the typical aquiline nose, the small and determined mouth, the protruding and rounded chin, stands a scepter terminated by a masterfully engraved three-quarter imperial eagle, an absolute symbol of its consecrated political and military power. In the engraving, you can also appreciate the dotted effect of the precious fabric (white satin tunic embroidered with gold; an ear of wheat engraved on the shoulder, partly covered by the ribbon which goes down to the nape of the neck). Behind the collar, the SANTARELLI signature is present, referring to Giovanni Antonio Santarelli (1758 - 1826), one of the undisputed masters of the art of engraving of that time. Provenance Ancienne collection du Comte Giuseppe Primoli (1851-1927) d’après l’annotation sur l’étiquette de l’écrin. Probablement reçu en héritage de la Princesse Alexandrine Blechamps (1778-1855). Paris, collection privée depuis 1920 et dans la même famille depuis lors Bibliographie de référence : -VANGELLI DE CRESCI G., Ad Minima Ad Maxima, La raconta di impronte e matrici di gemme incise e medaglie. Museo dell’Antica Zecca di Lucca. Roma 2019. - Ritrattini in cera d’epoca neoclassica. La collezione Santarelli e un’appendice sulle cere antiche del Museo Nazionale di Firenze (catal.), a cura di M. Casarosa Guadagni, con la collaborazione di E. Paribeni Rovai, Firenze 1981 - DUCHAMP M., G.A.S., Modeleur de cires. L’histoire de deux camées retrouvés, in The Medal, XII (1988), pp. 11-16; I - STEFANELLI L.P.B., Luciano Bonaparte e la glittica, in Luciano Bonaparte, le sue collezioni d’arte, le sue residenze a Roma, nel Lazio, in Italia (1804-1840), a cura di M. Natoli, Roma 1995, pp. 239-248 - STEFANELLI L.P.B., ritratti della famiglia Bonaparte nelle Collezioni Comunali (1983), e Addenda, in Studi di glittica, a cura di D.Del Bufalo - STEFANELLI L.P.B., La collezione Paoletti. Stampi in vetro per impronte di intagli e cammei, II, Roma 2012, schede nn. 1-200, pp. 124-138. - BLASIOLI, C., Ricordi biografici di G.A.S., Chieti 1882