Prospettiva rovesciata. Oggetti preziosi «siculo-bizantini» a nord del Po: il diaspro con sant’Agata al Museo Poldi Pezzoli di Milano

This paper discusses the problem of the circulation of Byzantine small objects in northern Italy and in the Alpine region. While some of them have been ascribed to the Nobiles Officinae of Palermo – or more broadly, to Sicilian workshops – it remains challenging to trace the origins and the displacements of most of these artifacts, and how they were acquired by early modern and modern collections. One particularly illustrative case study is that of the green jasper pendant preserved in the Museo Poldi Pezzoli in Milan, featuring the carved image of St. Agatha. Based on its iconography, the gem has been attributed to a 12th century Sicilian manufacture. Nevertheless, stylistic considerations, along with the widespread reception of the cult of St. Agatha throughout the medieval Mediterranean region, suggest that the date and provenance of the jewel may be reevaluated.