Christ from the end of the 16th century following Della Porta's models.

Italian Christ of the late 16th century-early 17th century. Following models of GUGLIELMO DELLA PORTA (ca. 1550-1577) and SEBASTIANO TORRIGIANI (active 1573-1596).
Gilded bronze.
Measurements: 27 x 26 cm.

Dated between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the bronze presented follows the model of the crucifix by Sebastiano Torrigiani, itself derived from a model by his master Guglielmo della Porta, found in the church of San Giacomo Maggiore in Bologna. This was a very popular model in the decorative arts of the time, on numerous occasions reproduced by goldsmiths and sculptors of great technical excellence like the one we are now bidding for. Thus, we are faced with the figure of Christ Crucified with only three nails, accentuating the drama of the scene. This theatricality, typical of the mannerist period where the first of the models was born, is enhanced by the elongation of the upper limbs, which support the entire weight of the crucified body.

Guglielmo della Porta was a renowned Italian sculptor, architect and restorer of Mannerism. The son of Cristoforo della Porta and his wife Caterina, he received his artistic education from his uncle Giovanni Battista della Porta in Genoa. He worked for the cathedral of Genoa during his early years of artistic training already in 1531 together with his brother Giacomo and under the direction of his uncle on the statues of the chapel of St. John the Baptist. In 1537 he moved to Rome and became a disciple of Michelangelo, thus obtaining a greater number of commissions. An example of this is the bust he made for Pope Paul III in 1547, after his death, and the tomb of St. Peter, which was his main work, which occupied him from 1555 to 1575, although it was later revised by Bernini. His career as a sculptor at the court of the Farnese was due to his contact with Mario Maccarone, the supervisor of papal building projects. In 1540, as Della Porta he designed the tomb of Vincenzo degli Ubaldi in the church of Santi XII Apostoli. Della Porta was a lay brother of the Cistercians and was called from 1547 to the papal coinage. Among other things, his studio was commissioned to complement the legs of the torso of Farnese, which was found in 1546. The result was so convincing to his contemporaries that following Michelangelo's own advice he was approved to link the ancient limbs of the statue, which had been excavated. Today his works can be found in different places of great historical and artistic relevance, such as his sculpture of Moses in San Lorenzo de Fiori, or for example his works in the Giuliano chapel of the cathedral of Genoa, in Santa Maria del Popolo, and his bust of Paul III which is in the Museum of Capodimonte.