Christ

The colossal figure of Christ (1821) was donated to the Academy in 1844 by the artist’s heirs. It was one of two plaster models made by the sculptor (the other is conserved in the Thorvaldsens Museums in Copenhagen) for the marble statue (1821-1827) destined for the Vor Frue Kirke in Copenhagen. Together with Antonio Canova’s Religion, the statue was placed in the church of Saints Luke and Martina. In 1926, during structural work on the building, the statues were badly damaged. Thorvaldsen’s shattered Christ was sawn up and only the bust and a few other pieces now survive.
V. Rotili