Roman burnt agate intaglio. Leda with the swan. Mythological scene,...

Roman burnt agate intaglio. Leda with the swan. Mythological scene, depicting the famous embrace between Leda and Jupiter, disguised as a swan (Ovid, Metamorphosis), episode which will lead to the birth of the Dioscuri. This intaglio shows Leda, standing up and in three quarters, strongly grabbing the animal's neck, pulling it towards herself, and getting its beak close to her lips. With the other hand, she holds up the mighty animal (with its wings spread), in the dynamic act of love. At the bottom, attributes (basket?). The artefact is characterized by a certain refinement in depicting details, and a remarkable compositional intuition for poses, according to an effective sculptural sense ( Inspired by sculptural models). A chipping inside the intaglio. Rare. 1st-2nd century A.D.
12 x 8 x 4 mm