The volume Cartier and the Myth, published by Marsilio Arte on the occasion of the exhibition of the same name at the Capitoline Museums in Rome (14 November 2025 – 15 March 2026), offers a rich and fascinating journey through art, jewellery, and mythological imagination. The catalogue invites readers to discover Cartier’s extraordinary ability to translate ancient myths, symbols, and legendary figures into precious creations, restoring to jewellery the evocative power of a universal language.

Organized into thematic sections, the volume explores the intertwining of classical culture, modern art, and the maison’s savoir-faire. The first part is devoted to the birth of the Cartier myth, tracing the history of the maison and the evolution of its style, from naturalistic motifs to the geometric lines of Art Deco. Subsequent chapters analyse the dialogue between ancient iconographic sources and contemporary reinterpretations: from Greek and Roman deities to zoomorphic symbols, from mythological metamorphoses to female figures of power and seduction. A broad section is also dedicated to the theme of transfiguration, understood as the passage from reality to imagination—a poetic hallmark that connects Cartier’s art of jewellery to the languages of art and literature.

The essays, written by art historians, mythologists, and design experts, stand out for their interdisciplinary approach: each illuminates a different aspect of the relationship between myth and artistic creation, offering interpretative keys that span from ancient symbolism to the dynamics of contemporary luxury. The rich and refined iconographic apparatus alternates photographs of jewels, paintings, sculptures, and archival documents, bringing together works from the past and modern creations in a visually compelling narrative. The images, many of them previously unpublished, guide the reader through an aesthetic journey that reflects the Maison’s pursuit of perfection, harmony, and mystery.

Cartier and the Myth is therefore not only an art catalogue but also a visual essay on the narrative power of jewellery—an opus that intertwines culture, beauty, and myth, restoring the poetic and symbolic dimension of timeless luxury.