11.09.–12.01.2024
When it comes to small things, it is often worth taking a closer look and even picking up a magnifying glass. In ancient art, this applies in particular to cut stones (gems), which are known as intaglios or cameos depending on their design. Tiny images, sometimes less than a centimetre in size, adorn semi-precious stones with vibrant colors. It is not only the variety of motifs that is astounding, but also the virtuosity and precision with which the ancient stone cutters worked.
The art of cutting stones was developed in the Ancient Orient and soon became widespread. It first flourished in the Aegean region in Minoan times. The miniature works of art could serve as seals. On the other hand, set in rings or amulets, they adorned or protected their wearers of all ages. The genre undoubtedly reached its artistic peak during the Greek classical period (5th/4th century BC) and the Hellenistic period (3rd to 1st century BC). However, production and interest continued throughout the Roman imperial period (1st to late 3rd century AD) and into late antiquity (late 3rd to 6th century AD). The first collections of this “art in miniature” were already being created by enthusiasts during this period.
Our special exhibition “Antike unter der Lupe”, in which around 180 selected pieces from three private collections (Bernhard Fischer, Kai Scheuermann and Wolfgang Skoluda) are presented together for the first time, builds on this collecting tradition. The gems cover a spectrum of ancient stone carving art from the 3rd millennium BC to the 5th century AD.
We deliberately contrast the rapid succession of the modern flood of images with our colorful miniature image carriers. We invite you to enjoy the details of the individual motifs and to discover the ancient stories and worlds behind them by observing them closely.
Catalogue
The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue.
The images provided here may be used in the context of editorial reporting on the Staatliche Antikensammlungen and the Glyptothek with reference to the exhibition "Antike unter der Lupe" may be used free of charge, provided the source is cited as ©Staatliche Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek. Use for commercial purposes is not permitted.
