Christian Charity

Bertel Thorvaldsen

19th century · Terracotta · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

This work is a highly finished study for one of four marble reliefs originally conceived in 1807–8 for the baptismal font of the Church at Brahe-Trollenberg, but subsequently rejected by the church. Early accounts state that the marble was executed for the third Marquess of Lansdowne in 1810, and in 1822 in order to raise money for a destitute Norwegian officer. This relief appears to precede a plaster cast original model from 1810.

Artist

Bertel Thorvaldsen

Date

19th century

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Danish

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Purchase, Irwin Untermyer Gift and Rogers Fund, 1973