Valerio Belli

The name of the sculptor of this portrait of Valerio Belli is not known. It has been speculated that it is a self-portrait, but this is unlikely, as Belli is not known to have produced marble sculptures.

Belli (around 1468-1546) was a famous engraver of hardstones and gems, in particular rock crystal. He worked at the papal court in Rome under two successive popes and also in Vicenza, his native city. Among his masterpieces is a casket made for Pope Clement VII in 1537 and composed of 24 scenes from the life of Christ engraved on rock-crystal plaques.

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The art of engraving gemstones, much admired since the early days of the Roman Empire, was revived in Europe during the Renaissance. Enthusiasts prized and collected cameos (in which the image stands proud of the surface) and intaglios (in which the image is hollowed out of the surface). These pieces sometimes served as symbols of power and were mounted in jewelled settings, and sometimes as small objects for private devotion or enjoyment.