Thorvaldsen’s Night

Finely carved Bull’s mouth shell cameo in a 15 carat gold brooch mount embellished with textured leaves, circa 1860.  The subject is the goddess Nyx or Night, after a bas-relief by Bertel Thorvaldsen. Thorvaldsen created his models for his iconic reliefs of Night and Day after a sleepless night in the summer of 1815 in Rome. Inspired by insomnia, the sculptor conceived the personification of Night in the form of a winged female in drowsy flight, her head tipped forwards in sleep and garlanded with poppies symbolising opium-induced torpor. Night gently cradles two children in her arms – Hypnos [Sleep] and Thanatos [Death].  An owl, symbol of night, hovers in the background. The goddess is clad in classical-styled drapery and floats effortlessly with an ethereal quality, her delicately carved wings supporting her. The brooch measures 3 and 1/4  inches by 2 and 3/4 inches. Finely carved and in immaculate condition.

£2200