Bust

The practice in sixteenth-century Rome of combining various materials in sculpture followed a tradition of classical art, and sumptuous materials filled the magnificent interiors of palaces. This bust of a balding man with a long, wavy beard, wearing a coat with a collar and lapels over a pleated doublet, is remarkable for the meticulous treatment of the facial features. The marble-clad bronze is attributed to Della Porta, whose most famous work is the lavish tomb for Pope Paul III in St. Peter’s in Rome. One of his main assistants, Bastiano Torrigiani, a renowned bronze caster, may in fact be responsible for this piece.