Bust of Pope Pius VI (Giovanni Angelo Braschi, 1717–1799)

Christian Friedrich Hecker

late 18th century · Onyx and gold · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Although he grew pudgy with age, Pius VI (r. 1775–99) was invariably praised as a fine figure of a man and was more frequently captured in hardstone than any pontiff before or since. His important collection of ancient glyptics was looted and dispersed during the French occupation of Rome.

Artist

Christian Friedrich Hecker

Date

late 18th century

Medium

Onyx and gold

Culture

Italian, Rome

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

The Milton Weil Collection, 1939