Christ at the Column. Tuscan School? 17th-18th century. Bronze with brown patina.

31 x 11 x 8 cm

A beautiful sculpture depicting Christ at the Column. The subject was explored by Giambologna and his school during the 17th century.

There are examples of these that are not identical, but quite similar in composition, attributed to young followers of Giambologna.

The models attributed to Giambologna are in the Bargello (Florence) and the Bode Museum (Berlin), but their pose is so classical and monumental that it completely differs from the other examples attributed to the school. Indeed, these present a more dramatic and expressionist twist, alluding to the Baroque.

As examples we recall those published by Avery (op.cit. pag. 138-139)
and the one in the Michael Hall collection (op. cit. pp. 132-133). The latter is attributed to the atelier of Antonio Susini or Barthelemy Prieur. The bronze presented here shows similarities with these castings, in the slightly exaggerated torsion and in the tone of the light brown patina.

Bibliography
Charles Avery-Anthony Radcliffe, Giambologna Sculptor to the Medici,
Exhibition catalogue, Westerham Press, England, 1978, pp. 138-139.

Charles Avery-Michael Hall, Giambologna, exhibition catalogue of the Michael Hall collection, Somogy Editions d'art, Paris, 1999, pp. 132-134.