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Corpus

Corpus is a life-size sculpture of Christ crucified made by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and cast in 1650. Bernini kept it in his private collection for 25 years. The bronze was long regarded as a lost masterpiece, and it may have existed in three versions: one destroyed during the French Revolution, one from the Spanish royal family’s collection, and another recorded in Perugia before disappearing in 1790. The version now in the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto was once thought to be by an unknown French artist, then later misattributed to the school of Giambologna. After detailed study, it was attributed to Bernini in the early 2000s. Donated by Murray Frum in 2007, it is now valued at $50 million.

Bernini\'s Corpus, a dark bronze crucified Christ with outstretched arms, bowed head, and crown of thorns.
Bernini\'s Corpus in dark bronze, shown mounted against a warm-toned wall.
December 2017 © · CC BY 3.0
Bronze sculpture of the crucified Christ with bowed head, closed eyes, and outstretched arms.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s bronze Corpus, showing Christ with his head lowered and arms outstretched.
December 2017 © · CC BY 3.0
Close-up of Bernini\'s bronze Corpus showing the head and upper torso of Christ with closed eyes and a crown of thorns.
Close-up of Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Corpus, showing the bowed head and upper body of Christ in bronze.
December 2017 © · CC BY 3.0
Upper body of Bernini\'s Corpus bronze sculpture showing Christ with a crown of thorns, head tilted and eyes closed.
Upper body detail of Bernini\'s Corpus, showing the crowned head of Christ in dark bronze.
December 2017 © · CC BY 3.0
Bronze Corpus sculpture showing the midsection of a human torso with drapery wrapped around the hips and thighs.
Detail of Corpus, showing the bronze torso and flowing drapery around the hips.
December 2017 © · CC BY 3.0

Identification

TitleCorpus
Typelife-size bronze sculpture
Alternative titleCristo crocifisso; The Body

Iconography and meaning

Subjectthe crucified Christ

Creator

ArtistGian Lorenzo Bernini
AttributionAttributed to Gian Lorenzo Bernini; attribution proposed in 2002, attributed in 2004, and confirmed in 2005
Date1650

Materials

Materialbronze

Historical context

Original purposelikely cast for Bernini's personal collection

Discovery and provenance

MisattributionLong thought to be by an unknown French artist and later mistakenly believed to be from the school of Giambologna
DonationMurray Frum donated it to the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto
Acquisition by Murray FrumIn January 2007, Toronto real-estate entrepreneur Murray Frum acquired it from a U.S. art dealer
VersionsThree versions are believed to have been cast; one was destroyed during the French Revolution, one belonged to the Spanish royal collection, and a third was recorded in Perugia before disappearing in 1790
Later ownershipAfter 1908 it passed into private American ownership
RediscoveryConsidered lost for more than a century; re-emerged in Venice in 1908
Ownership historyKept by Bernini in his private collection for 25 years

History and restoration

Auction historyOffered at auction in 1975 but failed to sell for $200

Location and ownership

Current locationArt Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada

Other

StatusConsidered one of the artist's long-lost masterpieces
Estimated value$50 million