Baptism of Christ

Object belonging

One's own

Category

Terracotta sculpture

City

Rome

Location

Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia

Specific location

Room 6

Inventory

PV 13474

Material and technique

Terracotta/ gilding

Author

Alessandro Algardi (1595-1654)

Dating

1646

Dimensions

45x46x25 cm.

Origin

Art market (2004)

Image copyright

SSPSAE e per il Polo Museale della città di Roma

Short description

This work is probably the terracotta cited in the artist’s will, which remained in his studio in the Vatican foundry at his death. The work has been linked with Monsignor Cristoforo Segni, the major-domo of Innocent X and the executor of Algardi’s will, and was still in the Segni family in the mid 18th century. This terracotta provided the moulds used for many different bronzes, including the version cast in silver that the artist gave to Innocent X.

Maria Giulia Barberini 

Bibliography

P. Cannata, Battesimo di Gesù, in J. Montagu (ed.), Algardi: l'altra faccia del Barocco, exh. cat., Roma 1999, pp. 162-167