ITALY. Sicily. A gold and hard stone cameo brooch, circa 1870. 16.35 gm. 25.5 mm (cameo), 46 mm (mount). Bare head bust of Arethusa left, a hand carved stone cameo mounted on a light lavender translucent glass base in a gold bezel. This portrait closely resembles the Syracuse tetradrachm portrait that the British Museum used for the Robert Ready electrotype copies of the 19th century. It was a well known image at the time. A charming 19th century jewelry piece, in splendid condition, reflecting a seminal classic Greek image.

William Wyon used this portrait of Arethusa as inspiration for the medals he and J. P. Donnard created as the Prize Medal for the "Great Exhibition," the 1851 International Exhibition in London. Cf. BHM 2461, 2462 or Eimer 1455, 1456, 1457 (Plates 158, 159).