3-095-388 - "Royal Academy of Arts, London; photographer: Prudence Cuming"/Heritage Images

Neptune, 1771. Standing figure of Neptune, god of the sea 'resting on his trident after having crowned the British navy with victory'. Richly set in a gold frame, and signed BURCH RA, this intaglio doubtless celebrates the victory of the Royal Navy over the Spanish fleet during the Falklands crisis in 1770. This piece in engraved cornelian was Edward Burch's Royal Academy of Arts diploma work. At the time Burch joined the Academy, he was already, despite being self-taught, the foremost gem engraver in Britain.