Cleveland Museum of Art

Baptism of Christ

Alessandro AlgardiLinkedCulture matchlcp-1b615e8cf9f0

Date: designed 1645–46, probably made 1650–55
Medium: bronze
Culture: Italy, 17th century
Department: European Painting and Sculpture
Institution: Cleveland Museum of Art
Object ID: 141932

From the Cleveland Museum of Art record

When Innocent X (Giovanni Battista Pamphili, ruled 1644–55) became pope, Alessandro Algardi endeavored to obtain his patronage. This bronze Baptism of Christ is a casting from the molds used for an original silver sculpture that Algardi presented to the new pope to gain his support in 1646. The composition depicts an important scene in the life of Christ. On the right is John the Baptist, who pours water onto Jesus's head from a shell. As Christ bows his head to be baptized, a little angel holds the edge of his cloak. Algardi worked carefully to make this piece exciting from a number of points of view. Its dramatic emphasis shifts, depending on the viewer's vantage point. Algardi's sculpture plays on its intended recipient's given name: Giovanni Battista (John the Baptist).

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Provenance & credit

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Credit line: Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund
Provenance: Franzoni (Fransone, Franzone) Family (Genoa, Italy) | Charles Butler (Warren Wood, England); by inheritance to his heirs | 1964: C. H. A. Butler, his grandson (Shortgrove, Newport, Essex, England) (sold by Christie's, London, lot no. 66, to P. & D. Colnaghi & Co., Ltd.) | 1965: P. & D. Colnaghi & Co., Ltd., London, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art.