Circle of Alessandro Algardi, 17th century

From the circle of ALESSANDRO ALGARDI (Bologna, 1595 – Rome, 1654); 17th century.
Gilded bronze.
It has a later-period base.
Provenance: Important Spanish private collection.
Measurements: 28 x 14 x 9 cm (sculpture).
Elevated on a later-period pedestal is a bronze figure in the style of the full-round, depicting a saint. The absence of iconographic attributes makes it impossible to identify the figure, who, based on his features, likely represents Saint Pedo or Saint Gregory, as both are typically depicted as middle-aged men. The style is stylized, the rendering of the drapery is highly naturalistic—with an emphasis on the texture of the brocades—and the face expresses a restrained boldness. The body is monumental and displays an elegant, measured movement, in the classical Baroque style. The saint’s posture suggests that he once held another object—now lost—in his hands. This was most likely a monstrance, with the figure of the saint serving as its base.
The aesthetic characteristics bring this work close to that of Alessandro Algardi (Bologna, 1595–Rome, 1654), who began his training under Ludovico Carracci, although his knowledge of sculpture stemmed from the teachings of Giulio Cesare Conventi. After receiving his initial artistic training in his hometown, Algardi moved to Mantua and later to Rome, under the patronage of Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi. In Rome, he belonged to the cultural circle of the Carracci pupils; his popularity was notable, though it was always overshadowed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s work as a sculptor.