Cameo of a male portrait head, in profile to the right. He wears a wig with queue.

The sitter may be identified with Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (1730-82), on the basis of an intaglio in Edward Burch's catalogue of casts. Burch states that the cast is in turn based on a marble bust by Joseph Nollekens, which is probably that of c. 1782, now in Edinburgh at Dalmeny House.

Rockingham, a Whig politician who twice served as Prime Minister, was himself an impressive collector of gemstones. Although his cabinet was subsequently dispersed, fifty-nine of the gems were reproduced by James Tassie in sulphur, enamel and glass and published in Raspe’s catalogue of 1791.

Text adapted from Ancient and Modern Gems and Jewels in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen, London, 2008