Elizabeth I 18th century

This Wedgwood and Bentley cameo depicts Queen Elizabeth I, a popular subject in 18th century portraiture. The white bas-relief portrait, set against a blue jasperware ground, is framed in gilt and features the Queen in a traditional ruff and jeweled headdress. Wedgwood and Bentley's cameo work is a fine example of Neoclassical style, which sought to revive the artistic ideals of ancient Greece and Rome. This particular piece is housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and measures 4 × 3 1/4 in. (10.2 × 8.3 cm).