The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 27, 2023

Saint John the Baptist

c. 1550

Italy, Venice, 16th century

Gilt bronze

Overall: 21.8 cm (8 9/16 in.)

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Severance A. Millikin 1947.28

Location

301 Baroque Sculpture Mezzanine

Description

This small bronze, covered with gold, was produced in multiple versions. Saint John stands here, looking calm and composed, in a rather graceful pose. This piece has a sense of forward motion even though the figure appears to be leaning back in this stance. Elegant and subtle, this piece is a beautiful example of small cast Renaissance bronzes.

Provenance
Erno Wittman, died 1963 (Budapest, Hungary; New York, New York), possibly sold through Raphael Stora (New York, New York) to Mr. and Mrs. Severance A. Millikin, 1945.
Mr. and Mrs. Severance A. Milliken, by gift to the Cleveland Museum of Art, 1947.
Citations
The Cleveland Museum of Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art Handbook. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1958. Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 231 archive.org
Exhibition history

Wildenstein and Co., N.Y., 1967: "An Exhibition of Works of Art Lent from the American Collections, The Italian Heritage, for the Benefit of the Committee to Rescue Italian Art," cat. no. 46, repr.

CMA 1975: "Renaissance Bronzes from Ohio Collections," [cat. by W. D. Wixom] (Cleveland 1975), cat. 32.

Classic to Baroque: A Style Change in the Arts. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 30-November 13, 1949).

35th Anniversary Exhibition. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (June 20-September 30, 1951).

The Italian Heritage; an exhibition of works of art lent from American collections for the benefit of the Committee to Rescue Italian Art (CRIA). Wildenstein & Co., New York, NY (organizer) (May 17-August 29, 1967).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1947.28