An early 19th century agate cameo by Antonio Berini (1770 - 1861)

An early 19th century agate cameo by Antonio Berini (1770 - 1861), depicting Gaius Maecenas, signed, in yellow gold ring mount, cameo 1.7cm high, ring size K 1/2

Antonio Berini (1770 - 1861) was a pupil of Giovanni Pichler. Among Berini's patrons were the politician Giovanni Battista Sommariva (1762 - 1826) and Count Giovanni Battista Caprara, Archbishop of Milan (1733 - 1810), who was instrumental in Napoleon's ascension to the Italian throne. Berini was commissioned by Caprara to engrave a portrait cameo of Napoleon, which would later lead to his imprisonment. A known Republican, Berini used a piece of sardonyx that contained a reddish vein at the height of his neck and this was considered to be a bad omen.