Bertel Thorvaldsen

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Thorvaldsen lived adjacent to German sculptor Christian Daniel Rauch in Rome for extended periods between 1805 and 1819. Following a visit to Carrara in 1816, Rauch crafted a model of Thorvaldsen "ad vivum", with the Danish artist posing as a live subject. The result was an exceptionally vivid representation of Thorvaldsen - capturing his captivating gaze, magnificent hair, and distinctive profile. Rauch frequently underscored the profound influence Thorvaldsen had on him. However, Thorvaldsen remained relatively silent about their relationship, and he did not own any works created by Rauch. The original model for this bust is housed at the Rauch Museum in Bad Aolsen, while a plaster copy of the sculpture can be found at The Thorvaldsens Museum, which was donated to them as a gift from Berlin in 1870.