“Passini” collection

Don Erminio Passini, born in Camerino in 1819, constructed this series of gemmological panels while in Rome between 1881 and 1886.
The collection, composed of more than eight thousand gems and / or semi-precious stones, was derived from votive gifts such as necklaces, pendants, earrings etc..
 
Passini used colour tones and effects of the gems in his series of panels, in place of brushes and colours.  This gives the assembly of gems a very expressive style.
 Most of the figures in the centre of the panels are quite notable. Among these, seven cameos are of religious subjects.  The small “Pietà” made in October 1886, is perhaps the most striking of them.