DIOSCORIDES (Greek). This artist is perhaps the most famous of all the ancient Gem-engravers. Pyrgoteles was the contemporary of Alexander the Great, and Dioscorides that of Augustus ; both personify the glyptic art under their respective periods, the one in Greek, and the other in Roman, times. But whereas no specimen of the work of Pyrgoteles has come down to us in support of writers' evidence, a sufficient number of undoubtedly genuine examples of that of Dioscorides are extant to excite our admiration. Suetonius and Pliny speak of the artist in the most eulogistic terms, and mention as his master-piece a portrait of Augustus, now unfortunately lost. The genuine signature of Dioscorides is only known on the following gems : 1 . Hermes taming Cerberus ; cameo in sardonyx ; Berlin Museum. The inscription ?IOCKO?PI?O? is in very small letters in the exergue. 2. Hermes on a journey, wearing petasus and chlamys, and holding caduceus ; intaglio in carnelian ; formerly in the Marlborough collection. M. Babelon adds to the description of this gem, that it is manifestly the copy of a sculptural work ; Prof. Furtwaengler compares with it the statue of the Vatican known under the name of Phocion. 3 . Hermes standing holds caduceus and a ram's head on a platter; intaglio in carnelian; formerly in the Carlisle collection. 4. Diomedes carrying off the Palladium ; intaglio in carnelian ; Devonshire collection. The French writer above-named says : “The carrying off of the Palladium is one of the favourite subjects of Greco-Roman art. Dioscorides only copied a work of sculpture or painting which he had before his eyes ; other engravers have not only followed his example, but reproduced his own work, which is even met with on pastes ". 5. Facing bust of Demosthenes; intaglio in amethyst; collection of the Prince of Piombino, at Rome. This is supposed to be a copy of the head of Demosthenes attributed to Polyeuktos. 6. Head, or bust of Io, or Artemis Tauropolis, diademed, threequarter face, horned, with hair flying in loose curls on the neck ; intaglio in carnelian ; the Florence Museum possesses a copy of this gem, which formerly belonged to the Poniatowski collection, sold in London in 1839. 7. Head of Cicero, aged; intaglio in amethyst; Bibliothéque nationale, Paris. King calls this, "ahead of Maecenas, formerly called that of Solon " ; another expert has attributed it to Phidias; but Prof. Furtwaengler, comparing this fine, bald, beardless, and aged portrait with a marble bust of Cicero at Aspley House, London, has come to the conclusion that the gem of Dioscorides presents the features of the great Roman orator in the last years of his life. Dioscorides had three sons who won fame Portrait of Cicsro as gem-engravers : Eutyches, Herophilos, and by Dioscorides. Hyllos. In a treatise on the virtues of gems, Dioscorides is said to have written on the medicinal value of the sapphire, which he considered an active remedy against fever. A large number of engraved stones exist on which the signature ?IOCKO?PI?O? has been added in modern times. Amongst these I may mention a few of the best known : Cameo, with portrait of Augustus, in the Ludovici collection at Rome; — Perseus resting his hand on a shield with a head of Medusa, and holding a sword, sard; — Head ol Augustus; a star in the field; amethyst, perhaps by Sirletti ; — Bust of Augustus, with the paludamentum ; amethyst ; — Head of Augustus, laureated ; cameo ; — Bacchus riding on a panther, with cantharus and thyrsus ; — Head of Caligula ; cameo ; — Muse ; sard ; — Head of Julius Caesar ; sard; British Museum; — Giant with serpent legs; beryl; — Hercules chaining Cerberus, cameo ; — Hermaphroditus reclining, Cupid playing the lyre, &c. ; amethyst ; — Head of a girl ; topaz ; — Bust of Sarapis ; garnet; — Silenus and young Faun playing the double flute ; sard ; — Thalia holding a mask ; sard ; — Head of Sol radiated, front face; sard (presented to Colbert by the Chapter of Figeac), &c. Modern gem-engravers have also imitated the works of Dioscorides, Pichler produced a most admirable copy of the head of Io; Natter and Torricelli have copied all his best gems, some of them repeatedly. The native country of Dioscorides is known from the inscription on the Minerva of the Berlin Museum, which runs thus : EYTYXHC ?IOCKOYPI?OY ?I??AIOC EM (Eutyches, son of Dioscorides of Aegae, made this). This Aegae was probably the town of that name in Aeolia (Asia Minor). Bibliography. — Babelon, Pierres gravées, Paris, 1894. — Daremberg et Saglio, Dictionnaire des antiquités grecques et romaines. — King, Antique Gems, 1860. — Furtwaengler, Studien über die Gemmen mit Künstlerinschriften, Jahrbuch des Kais. deutsch. archeol. Instituts, t. III, 1888.
Source: Biographical dictionary of medallists; coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, ancient and modern, with references to their works B.C. 500-A.D. 1900; compiled by L. Forrer, London 1904
Source: Biographical dictionary of medallists; coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, ancient and modern, with references to their works B.C. 500-A.D. 1900; compiled by L. Forrer, London 1904
DEDEKIND, BERNHARDT JULIUS
DEDEKIND, BERNHARDT JULIUS (Germ.). Mint-master, and Engraver at Brunswick, 1723-1742, and Aurich, Prussia, 1747-1749; he afterwards worked at Copenhagen. His initials B. I. D. appear on coins and medals of Dukes Ludwig Rudolf, 1731-1735, Ferdinand Albrecht Junior, 1. March — 2. Sept. 1735, and Carl I., 1735- 1742. The following are not uncommon : Commemorative medal of the Entry of Duke Ludwig Rudoll into Brunswick, 23. March 1731 ; — Half Thaler of same Duke, 1735; — Sterbe-Thaler of same date...
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DEDEKIND, BERNHARDT JULIUS (Germ.). Mint-master, and Engraver at Brunswick, 1723-1742, and Aurich, Prussia, 1747-1749; he afterwards worked at Copenhagen. His initials B. I. D. appear on coins and medals of Dukes Ludwig Rudolf, 1731-1735, Ferdinand Albrecht Junior, 1. March — 2. Sept. 1735, and Carl I., 1735- 1742. The following are not uncommon : Commemorative medal of the Entry of Duke Ludwig Rudoll into Brunswick, 23. March 1731 ; — Half Thaler of same Duke, 1735; — Sterbe-Thaler of same date...
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DEFAILLY, CHARLES
DEFAILLY, CHARLES (Swiss). Lithographer and Engraver, residing at Geneva. He has edited a number of medals during the last few years, most of which were struck in Paris, and are the work of various engravers. The following pieces bearing his signature have come before my notice : Agricultural Exhibition at Bienne, 1890; — Swiss Federal F?te de gymnastique, 1891 ; — Cantonal Shooting F?te at Morges, 1891 ; — Vine-growers F?te at Vevey. 1891 ; — Unveiling of the Pestalozzi Monument at Yverdon, 189...
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DEFAILLY, CHARLES (Swiss). Lithographer and Engraver, residing at Geneva. He has edited a number of medals during the last few years, most of which were struck in Paris, and are the work of various engravers. The following pieces bearing his signature have come before my notice : Agricultural Exhibition at Bienne, 1890; — Swiss Federal F?te de gymnastique, 1891 ; — Cantonal Shooting F?te at Morges, 1891 ; — Vine-growers F?te at Vevey. 1891 ; — Unveiling of the Pestalozzi Monument at Yverdon, 189...
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DEGEORGE, CHARLES JEAN MARIE
DEGEORGE, CHARLES JEAN MARIE (French). Sculptor, and Medallist, born at Lyons, on the 31st of March 1837, died at Paris, in the early part of November, 1888. He was a pupil of Duret, Flandrin, Jouffroy, and Chabot. In 1866, he obtained the Grand Prix de Rome for a medal representing France protecting Algeria. Since that date, he exhibited at nearly every Salon. Beside a number of busts and other works of sculpture, the artist produced a series of medals which rank among the best of modern Master...
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DEGEORGE, CHARLES JEAN MARIE (French). Sculptor, and Medallist, born at Lyons, on the 31st of March 1837, died at Paris, in the early part of November, 1888. He was a pupil of Duret, Flandrin, Jouffroy, and Chabot. In 1866, he obtained the Grand Prix de Rome for a medal representing France protecting Algeria. Since that date, he exhibited at nearly every Salon. Beside a number of busts and other works of sculpture, the artist produced a series of medals which rank among the best of modern Master...
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DEJOIE, JEAN
DEJOIE, JEAN (French). Coin-engraver, and Medallist who worked for the Republic of Haiti, 1820- 1840. His signature is I. D. and sometimes DEJOIE in full. The currency issued by J. P. Boyer, President of the Republic of Haiti, was engraved by this artist, and consists of Gourdes, Half-Gourdes, Gourdins, Reals, Half-Reals, Two and One Centime pieces, of the years 15, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 37, of the Independence. Bibliography. — Schlickeysen-Pallmann, op. cit. — Ad. Weyl, Die Jules ...
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DEJOIE, JEAN (French). Coin-engraver, and Medallist who worked for the Republic of Haiti, 1820- 1840. His signature is I. D. and sometimes DEJOIE in full. The currency issued by J. P. Boyer, President of the Republic of Haiti, was engraved by this artist, and consists of Gourdes, Half-Gourdes, Gourdins, Reals, Half-Reals, Two and One Centime pieces, of the years 15, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 37, of the Independence. Bibliography. — Schlickeysen-Pallmann, op. cit. — Ad. Weyl, Die Jules ...
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