The Baptism of Christ

Object belonging

One's own

Category

Wood sculpture

City

Rome

Location

Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia

Specific location

Store

Inventory

s.n.

Material and technique

Sculpted wood, paint, gilding

Author

Roman School

Dating

18th century

Dimensions

32.6 x 9 x 6 cm.

Origin

Gorga Collection (1948)

Image copyright

SSPSAE e per il Polo Museale della città di Roma

Short description

This statuette came from the collection of the opera singer Gennaro Evangelista (called Evan) Gorga, which was given to the Italian state in 1948 and was intended for the most part for the Palazzo Venezia museum. It depicts the rather emaciated and bony figure of Christ, fixed to a quadrangular base, with a beard and dark hair; covered only by a short, golden loincloth, he leans slightly forward, clasping his hands together in prayer, ready to be baptized. The reverse is flat, suggesting that it was designed to be seen solely from the front. It is not a work of significant artistic value, and can be dated to 18th century Rome.

Grazia Maria Fachechi 

Bibliography

Unpublished