Baptism of Christ
by ALGARDI, Alessandro, Bronze, 63 x 47 x 33 cm
Algardi produced his greatest works during the papacy of Innocent X Pamphili (reg 1644–55). Bernini was ousted from his supreme artistic position in Rome because of his close personal connections with the Barberini, the family of the deceased Pope Urban VIII, and a circle well disposed towards Algardi dominated the papal court. Algardi presented himself to Innocent X with a silver Crucifix (untraced; bronze version, Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome) and a silver group depicting the Baptism of Christ (untraced; terracotta model, Biblioteca Apostolica, Vatican; bronze version, Museum of Art, Cleveland).
This bronze group was designed in 1645-46, and probably made in 1650-55.