#dioskourides

This gemstone measures just 2cm tall, and it's engraved with an intricate portrait of Demosthenes, along with a Greek inscription of the artist's name, Dioskourides.

Above: a close-up of the inscription on the right side of the intaglio, which reads "of Dioskourides"

Dioskourides was the chief gem-engraver of Emperor Augustus, as this article describes:

A Roman amethyst intaglio with a portrait of Demosthenes is another masterpiece in the collection and is one of the most important gems to survive from antiquity. To the right of the bust, in small neat letters is the inscription “of Dioskourides,” the artist's signature. Dioskourides was named the chief gem engraver for Emperor Augustus (63 B.C.-14 A.D.).

Dioskourides' portrait of Demosthenes is without question a masterpiece. The gem was admired as much for the high quality of its craftsmanship and its exceptionally deep engraving, rare for an ancient intaglio, as for its identifying signature, since Dioskourides was recognized throughout the Renaissance and into the modern era as the greatest gem engraver of the Roman world.

Dioskourides is the only gem-engraver of the Roman period who is not only mentioned by ancient writers but also known from surviving works. At present, in addition to his Demosthenes portrait, six other intaglio gems and one cameo survive that bear Dioskourides’ signature, while several others are assigned to him on account of quality and style.

Nothing is known about the ancient owner of Dioskourides’ Demosthenes.

The ringstone was acquired by the Getty Museum back in 2019.

Sources & More Info:

Getty Museum: Intaglio with Bust of Demosthenes

Alain Truong: Christie's to Offer Miniature Engraved Gems Formerly in the G. Sangiorgi Collection

Christie's: Roman Amethyst Ringstone with a Portrait of Demosthenes

Dioskourides of Samos (2nd to early 1st c BC)

"Musici Ambulanti" (street musicians). Mosaic panel 43.7 x 41.7 cm Polychrome floor mosaic, made with minute (1-4 mm) tesserae (stones), using the opus vermiculatum (Latin, worm-like) technique. The scene is known from the 3rd c BC onward. It is found in paintings and mosaics until the 3rd c AD. The play is not immediately identifiable. The musical instruments,though, are often connected with the cult of Cybele. Found 28 April 1763 in "Villa of Cicero", outside Herculaneum Gate, West of Pompeii. National Archaeological Museum, Naples

signature (rare), painted mortar between the tesserae:

ΔΙΟΣΚΟΥΡΙΔΗΣ ΣΑΜΙΟΣ ΕΠΟΙΗΣΕ Dioskourides of Samos created [this]

[It was like a "Picasso" on the floor]

http://www.my-favourite-planet.de/english/people/d1/dioskourides-samos.html

~ Intaglio with Bust of Demosthenes.

Artist/Maker: Dioskourides (Greek, active late 1st century B.C.)

Culture: Roman

Place of origin: Rome, Italy

Date: ca. 25 B.C.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: 

MOSAIC depicting musicians, signed by Dioskourides of Samos. The mosaic shows an episode from a comedy since the figures are wearing theatrical masks. The figures are playing musical instruments often connected with the cult of Cybele : the tambourine, small cymbals and the double flute.

 The mosaic was found in the so-called Villa of Cicero near Pompeii and dates to the 1st century BCE. It was made with tiny tesserae, in a technique called opus vermiculatum. 

Mosaic with Street Musicians Dioskourides of Samos 1st century BCE The Naples National Archaeological Museum, Naples, Italy This Mosaic with Street Musicians, signed by Dioskourides of Samos was found in the so-called Villa of Cicero near the ancient city of Pompeii. The mosaic depicts an episode from a comedy, since the figures are wearing theatrical masks. The figures are playing musical instruments often connected with the cult of Cybele: the tambourine, small cymbals and the double flute.