ANTINOUS Hand-Painted Silver Pendant on Onyx

This pendant features a hand-painted representation of Antinous, skillfully painted by the artist Tommaso Rossi on Onyx. Set in solid silver, it captures the timeless beauty and mystique of Antinous, a figure renowned for his association with love, youth, and divine beauty in ancient mythology. The rich black hue of Onyx enhances the striking artwork, while the silver setting adds an elegant touch. This pendant blends mythology with fine craftsmanship, offering a meaningful and visually captivating piece of jewelry.

Antinous was a young Greek of extraordinary beauty and deep historical significance, best known as the beloved companion of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Born around 111 CE in Bithynia, a region of modern-day Turkey, Antinous captivated Hadrian with his intelligence, grace, and striking appearance. Their bond transcended traditional relationships of the time, symbolizing ideals of loyalty and love. Tragically, Antinous's life was cut short in 130 CE when he drowned in the Nile under mysterious circumstances. His death profoundly affected Hadrian, who deified Antinous, commissioning statues, coins, and temples in his honor, and founding the city of Antinopolis near the site of his death. To this day, Antinous remains an enduring symbol of beauty, devotion, and the enigmatic interplay of human and divine.

Tommaso Rossi is the talented young artist who creates these exquisite miniature portraits and mythical stories. Working on both marble and hard stone discs, he depicts historical and mythical figures from ancient Greece and Rome, using paints such as enamels, titanium acrylics and graphite. In his amazingly detailed technique, Tommaso employs either an echidna quill or a rose thorn instead of a brush to define the figures on these miniature masterpieces.
Born in Rome in 2000, Tommaso first attended art school on Via Ripetta and then, recognized for his superior talent, he entered the prestigious “Scuola dell’Arte della Medaglia”. This is an elite art school in Rome where only a small number of the finest young artists are carefully chosen for further training in the arts of engraving and plastic modeling.
For more than a century, exceptional artists have acquired additional skills through the use of ancient techniques, innovative methodologies, design and craftsmanship. Importance is also given to art history and conservation. Classical traditions are reimagined, merging Antiquity with present day culture.