The New York herald., 1879-03-21
FINE ARTS.
THE KING COLLECTION OF ENGRAVED GEMS.

OF CASTOR L. Feuardent Il 90. tomorrow. 1t is the
collection of antique engraved gems. chiefly sgnets
set as rings. and in some cases as pendants whicn
was brought together during q period Of thirty
years-from ls47 to 1S77-by the Rev. c. w. King. A.
M OF the senior professors at Trinity College.
Cambridge. the author OF antique Gems, early
Christian Numismatics. The Gnostics and Their re-
mains" and other important works. and one OF the
principal authorities in the world engraved gems
and coins. This well known private collection. the
result many years loving labor and. he him
self says in the introduction to his full
manuscript catalogue. quoting from Goethe. the
payment Of "many heavy fee for his apprentice
ship he only ntrusted them for sale to his friend
CASTOR L. Feuardent. who aided, him much ia the
collection. because he had become almost bind and
unable to enjoy his treasures. The venerable
collector parting with his treasures especially
stipulated that sold they should be kept together
In this he is wise. for it will remain as monument
to his momory being the finest collection of fntagios
In tho world. and from historical point OF view
only inferior to that Of the cabinet of medals at
Paris. We understand that the trustees OF the
Metropolitan Museum are. .desirous--and right they
in being soof purchasing the collection. which
is certainly unique for its sze An effort will
be made. 1t is thought and we hope. to raise the
required sum by subscription.
The settings Of tho rings. chiefly of gold. are in
some instances original. in others. antique copies
of originals. and in the majority of carefully
reproduced. under the personal supervision Of
MT. King. from antique patterns. The collection
numbers 331 pieces-the majority of which
are in beauty as archaoiogically--a thor
oughly illustrates the rise and progress of the gyp-
tic art among the ancients. 1t Is to find among
tho signets cut by the ancients what are now known
as precious stones and the present collection
tains two such, sapphire and ruby. The subjects
are generally OF religious or supernatural charac.
ter the earliest specimens being representatives of
tho cabalistc and gnostic amulcts; illustrate my
thology or history or picture contemporary events
portant examples In the order in which they
catalogued to subjects. No. Is an Assvrian
cylinder OF unusual magnitude being one and one
pentine subject man headed bull. erect. plung-
ing dagger into the belly Of lion; rampant.
by the fore feet bull which attempts to
escape and then Sandon, the Babylopian Hercules,
thrusting the spike OF his mace into second ram
pant lon-all in strong action and boldly drawn
executed in shallow intago--cuneiform inscriptions.
No; 21Assyrian cylinder subject. Worship OF
Persian cone. finely cut; date anterior to the
Macedonian conquest with figure of Hermes or
sapphirine chalcedony. Nos. to % -sassanian cut
gems; busts, heads and figures OF kings queens
and other men and women; elephants bulls and
nons stones-garnet. pig Jasper chalcedony spinel.
cornelian sardonyx, ntcolo, 5acinth, h9matite car
buncle. lapis laxuli, almandine. No. 30, Indian
SAGA or sudo; Scythian chief. sardonyx. Nos. 33
and "a. Isis. Nos IS to 81. Egyptian. Nos. 3S to
Creation, bisexua figure In the field is butterfly
typifying life perched on snail, the ancient en-
blem Of salacity-tIansucet stone of the nature of
chrlsophrase. OF this curious type other
amples are known, according to Mr.. King. No. So.
Egyptian-the cynocephalus. No. 57-A gorgeous
head, on Ane red jasper. used as talisman-late
Roman work No. 81. Christisn-A female kneeling
before monogram of Christ. and about to be be-
"a of vet
discovered and very valuable example. No. Is.
Jnpiter-A head engraved in low intagho on sap
Serapis Sol and Ammon-a work Of the Roman school.
said not to be equalled in its line. No. 50, Juno
Ing necklace and triplet earrings. Of Julia
Tita deifed-a fine amber sardonyx, with
peculiar red spot on the check of the goddess. Tho
next three numbers also Junos. No. a. Jupiter
fine Italio-Greek intaglio. with Titan, the Son
of Earth. defying Jupiter; large round sardonyx.
sunk, vigorous head Of Jupiter Ammon, seen in
front face, of the Cyrenaic school, about 400 B. c.;
the stone fine sardonyx in the original gold setting
Tho subject Of No. 81 is Nercus and Doris seen
moving over the waves. fine cinquo cento copy of
q we'll known gem at Florence; beautiful agate. Of
two shades. No. 86, Sea Nymph Swimming-A deli-
cate Greek work on fne sard. No. SS-Amymone
holding as she kneels Neptunes trident and tho
set as = pendant in silver gilt No 81. Dolphin
Sardonyx cut into paralelogram, very character
istic specimen of the cnquo cento school, No. 90 Is
head Of Pxllas (Minervs from Lady Greavcs' col
lection. and fine example of the style of Rega of
Naples. 1t is signed and the stone is handsome aqua
nne example of the best Roman period, but even
valuable from the rarity OF the stone which is
The Delphic Apolio-A masterwork of the later
school Of Greece . large sardonyx No. 164-A fight
between two Gallic footmcn and two Roman horse
men; one Gaul already slain and the other defending
himself on his knees. Mr.. King says this prob
tory Of family"-xanc work Of the Consular period.
beautiful figure of Psyche kneelng with one
and stealthiy opening the Box of Beauty given
to her by Proserpine to carry to Venus will be
In No. 17s. Out OF the box comes poisonous vapor.
This Is large and lovely amethyst. OF it Mr.. King
says:-'This is the best Of the Poniatowsky gems
known to for excellence Of design and neness of
execution" No. 1Sl shows juvenile Bacchus by
grapevine. holding in one hand s snnce and In the
from stand III the background indicates the noe
turnal character OF the celebration of his rites The
Stone is many layercd sardonyx cut trans
versely. No. 1873 is . Sfenus, as is No. 1884,
| rare subject is seen in the Italio-Greek
| specimen, No. 205, which represents Fate-a
nude female Hgure seen on front vew 1t is highly
| finished, and on dark brown oval agate. No. 216-
0mphsle on large ssrdonyx, % bearing bearing the % club Of
the stymphaiian birds-a nno work. No 227 is head
IN its ] class known to me-. Thc stone is large sar
donyx, full OF small hlaments Of iron. No. 336 is
"Discobolus"
Ajax in full armor is seen in No. 49, tearing away
Cassandra from the altar Of Pallas. It is fine
ample of the best period of the Etruscan style on
work. or the portraits. which from Nos. 24s to
2s4. note No. 256 OF young mani No. 25l Ciccro
No. 252 Caius C@sar No. 262, head of young Nero
| No. 26S. Carscalla aud Placotills facing each
| other, with imperial eagle standing on
an altar of Hymen. between the bnsts.
| No. 30l In q handsome piece, ruby sardonyx, with
young boy petting large hound. According to
Mr.. King. II Is 'an exquisite engraving OF the best
Greek tiInes." Finally, No. 3lG is peculiar piece.
elephant with upraiscd creeping out OF snail $
she'll. cut In . hno sardonyx. and Of Roman work
maqshp. 4
With tho collection. which viii be found csfe-
fully arranged In with plaster casts by each
specimen. Coca tho interesting learned and very val
liable manuscript catalogue OF the collector. Mr..
King and q copious introduction consisting of q
condensed history of tho gypttc art The price asked
for the collection Is $4,000
THE cERvANTEs MONUMENT.
Many will have thought that our Spanish and
Spansh-Amercan residents had given up their idea
OF erecting monument to tho memory of Ger
vantes in Central Park. about witch much was