Christ on the Mount of Olives
Massimiliano Soldani-Benzi (1656–1740)
c. 1722
this site may contain automatically translated text
Massimiliano Soldani-Benzi sent a wax model for a relief of this subject to Prince Johann Adam Andreas I von Liechtenstein in 1695, but the Prince was not interested in commissioning a bronze version at that time. Such wax models almost never survive, and this one is no exception, but at some subsequent point Soldani produced a characteristically polished model in terracotta, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which he followed almost to the letter in the finished work. In the event, the present bronze was not cast until 1722, for Filippo Martelli in Florence, and only entered the Princely Collections as recently as 2003.
The story of Christ’s solitary vigil on the Mount of Olives is related – with minor variations of detail – in all four Gospels, and by Soldani’s day it had long been customary for artists to add their own supplementary embellishments to the bare bones of the narrative. In the present relief, Christ is shown swooning under the burden of his abandonment, while his three most favoured disciples – Peter, James, and John – sleep in the middle distance. He is sustained by two angels, one of whom holds aloft a chalice in his right hand, in allusion to Christ’s words when – in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke – he asks that a cup be taken from him. In addition, two groups of putti are included: three fly above the central figures, gesticulating and lamenting, while three others spread out a drapery at bottom right. It is adorned with various instruments of Christ’s imminent Passion, such as the Crown of Thorns, and thus defies the chronological limitations that commonly apply to narrative. One of the most prominent of these emblems, a hammer, may suggest that the composition in its present form, not just in bronze but also as a terracotta model, was created for Filippo Martelli, since ‘martello’ is the Italian word for hammer.
- Material/technique
- bronze, brownish-gold lacquer patina
- Measurements
- 65 × 45 cm
- Acquisition
- acquired in 2003 by Prince Hans-Adam II von und zu Liechtenstein
- Artists/makers/authors
- Massimiliano Soldani-Benzi
- Inventory number
- SK 912
- Provenance
- acquired from Filippo Martelli (1655-1734) by the artist on 10 Sept. 1722; exhibited in Santissima Annunziata in 1767 as the property of Niccolò Martelli (1715-1782); owned by the Martelli family, Florence, until 1813; acquired in 2003 by Daniel Katz Ltd, London
- Iconography
- Mount of Olives
A. Civai, Dipinti e sculture in casa Martelli. Storia di una collezione patrizia fiorentina dal Quattrocento all'Ottocento, Florenz 1990, S. 61 u. 70, Anm. 102-103, 120 u. 189
Johann Kräftner, Andrea Stockhammer, Liechtenstein Museum Wien. Le Collezioni, München 2004, S. 299, Abb. S. 280-281, Kat. VII.35
Johann Kräftner, Andrea Stockhammer, Liechtenstein Museum Vienna. The Collections, Johann Kräftner (Hg.), München–Berlin–London–New York 2004, S. 299, Abb. S. 280-281, Kat. VII.35
Johann Kräftner, Andrea Stockhammer, Liechtenstein Museum Wien. Die Sammlungen, Johann Kräftner (Hg.), München–Berlin–London–New York 2004, S. 299, Abb. S. 280-281, Kat. VII.35
Ausst.-Kat. Les Bronzes du Prince de Liechtenstein. Chefs-d'oeuvre de la Renaissance et du Baroque, Alexis Kugel (Hg.), Galerie J. Kugel, Paris 10.9.2008–7.11.2008, erschienen Paris 2008, S. 111, Abb. S. 74-75, Farbtafel 36, Kat. 36
Ausst.-Kat. Der Fürst als Sammler. Neuerwerbungen unter Hans-Adam II. von und zu Liechtenstein, Johann Kräftner (Hg.), Liechtenstein Museum, Wien 12.2.2010–24.8.2010, erschienen Wien 2010, S. 98–99, Kat.-Nr. 37, Abb. S. 268, S. 269
Ausst.-Kat. Gegossen für die Ewigkeit. Die Bronzen der Fürsten von Liechtenstein. Eine Ausstellung in der Reihe MÄRZ IM PALAIS im Gartenpalais Liechtenstein, Alexandra Hanzl, Johann Kräftner, Katharina Leithner, Arthur Stögmann, Johann Kräftner (Hg.), Gartenpalais Liechtenstein, Wien 1.–31.3.2023, erschienen Wien 2023, S. 246–247, Kat.-Nr. 109
Discover more objects by
Massimiliano Soldani-Benzi
DOWNLOAD LOW-RES IMAGE
In accordance with our Open Content Policy, we provide free downloads of photos of artworks in the Princely Collections that are protected either by copyright and/or ancillary protection law in limited sizes for non-commercial use. Our Conditions of Use for Photographs apply.
We would appreciate a specimen copy or a link to your use context, sent to [email protected].
DOWNLOADORDER HIGH-RES IMAGE
Publishable, high-resolution digital image files are available of this piece for commercial use. The required rights can be obtained from Scala Archives Firenze. The terms and conditions of the Scala Group Spa apply. Use the link below to access the Acala Archives website.
TO SCALA ARCHIVESDownload PDF
Here you can download a PDF with information on the object.