Italian, 17th century | Cameo with a Saint

Chenel collection, Paris

This beautiful and rare cameo with a Saint is significant because it is carved from Sapphire, which was a material reserved for high ranking families or members of the Papacy. The portrait bears some resemblance to contemporary prints of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi (1559-1619) who was Imperial chaplain to the army of the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II. However, the gem stylistically predates Saint Lawrence's beatification in 1783 and his canonization in 1881.