The Young Saint John the Baptist

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The pose of this boy, who seems poised to spring into action, echoes the masterful works of Michelangelo, whose name was once associated with this statue. However, the boy's slender physique owes its refinement to Susini's rigorous training under his uncle Antonio, a protégé of Giovanni Bologna, the renowned 16th-century bronze sculptor. In Florentine art, John the Baptist is often depicted as a youthful figure, serving as a virtuous role model for young people. The lamb at his feet serves as a powerful symbol of Jesus Christ, whose arrival John had foretold. As holy water fills the shell in John's hand, this statue might have stood proudly against the wall of a chapel, with one figure gazing toward the altar and the other looking out to greet approaching worshippers.