Early modern · Cleveland Museum of Art · 1964.36
Study for The Blessed Alessandro Sauli
Pierre Puget, 1663–1668
Cleveland Museum of Art · Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund · Public domain
- Artist
- Pierre Puget
- Date
- 1663–1668
- Medium
- terracotta
- Dimensions
- Overall: 69.7 cm (27 7/16 in.)
- Era
- Early modern
Why it matters
A famous preacher from an aristocratic family in Genoa, Sauli (1534-1591) spearheaded important Catholic reforms, including popular missions and restructuring the church to reach a broader spectrum of worshippers. This sculpture is a model for a large statue commissioned by the Sauli family for a Genoese church. Although the open book speaks to Sauli’s work as a reformer, his twisting body and facial expression indicate utter absorption in a deeply personal vision.