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Source Description

In 1673, Bernini was commissioned by Pope Clement X to design gilded figures of the twelve apostles and the Risen Christ to crown the tabernacle of the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in St. Peter's Basilica. Working from Bernini's designs, Giovanni Rinaldi made the models. Girolamo Lucenti, the bronze founder, had problems casting the Risen Christ, and the initial bronze cast had a flaw across its chest. This cast, now partially repaired and in the Walters' collection, was left in a rough state. The model was recast, gilded, and installed in St. Peter's. Christ's idealized body recalls ancient sculptures of the sun-god Apollo, praised as having a perfect physique. His striding pose is beautifully balanced while his ascent toward heaven is suggested by the deeply carved, fluttering drapery, seemingly responding to an invisible wind and creating a strong play of light and shadow. Bernini was the greatest sculptor of his age. He imbued figures of both metal and marble with an unsurpassed sense of life and motion.

Scholar Source Context

Document identity
localId
1418
label
The Risen Christ
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
13
Source metadata
id
1418
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
The Risen Christ
description
In 1673, Bernini was commissioned by Pope Clement X to design gilded figures of the twelve apostles and the Risen Christ to crown the tabernacle of the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in St. Peter's Basilica. Working from Bernini's designs, Giovanni Rinaldi made the models. Girolamo Lucenti, the bronze founder, had problems casting the Risen Christ, and the initial bronze cast had a flaw across its chest. This cast, now partially repaired and in the Walters' collection, was left in a rough state. The model was recast, gilded, and installed in St. Peter's. Christ's idealized body recalls ancient sculptures of the sun-god Apollo, praised as having a perfect physique. His striding pose is beautifully balanced while his ascent toward heaven is suggested by the deeply carved, fluttering drapery, seemingly responding to an invisible wind and creating a strong play of light and shadow. Bernini was the greatest sculptor of his age. He imbued figures of both metal and marble with an unsurpassed sense of life and motion.
provenance
Henry Walters, Baltimore [formerly in the Baltimore office of Henry Walters] [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; C. Morgan Marshall [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1942, by gift.
date
1673-1674 (Baroque)
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Metal
statuettes (statues)
imageCount
13
pageCount
13
source
import
dimensionsRaw
H: 17 5/16 in. (44 cm)
Source extras
cul
Italian
med
bronze
creator_ids
6650
6650
collection_ids
BAR
exhibition_ids
34
948
2159
2570
170
2917
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