Pennsylvania-born Rothermel traveled to Rome in 1856, spending nearly three years studying and painting. This monumental work, depicting Christ Among the Doctors, was painted shortly after the artist’s return to Philadelphia and shows evidence of his Roman sojourn. This includes the prominent Solomonic columns in the composition flanking the youthful Christ, inspired no doubt, by Bernini’s Baldacchino over the high altar of St. Peter’s in the Vatican.
