ATTRIBUTED TO GUGLIELMO DELLA PORTA (1515-1577)

Guglielmo della Porta (circa 1500-1577) was one of the most important sculptors of sixteenth-century Italy, with documented works including the tomb of Pope Paul III in St. Peter’s Basilica. He and his workshop are known to have created many small scale corpus figures. The present bronze, with its relatively long arms, and delicately finished head, dropping to the proper right, is characteristic of his work. The wide torso and hips also betray the influence of Michelangelo, who was known to have been a major inspiration for the artist.