Although a later age has not attributed the greatest artistic importance to Camuccini’s (1771-1844) historical paintings, he was an important figure in his day. He thus occupied positions that ensured him of power and authority. Among other things, he was the inspector general of the papal collections. And then, cultured and affable as he was, he knew how to mix in the upper echelons. Like his friend Thorvaldsen, he was an art collector, and the present bust was executed by arrangement with Camuccini, who in return painted a portrait of Thorvaldsen that today hangs in the San Luca Academy in Rome.
