This bust of Pope Clement XIV was commissioned in Rome by the British collector Thomas Mansel Talbot (1747-1813) who also commissioned to the artist, at the same time, a portrait bust of himself (Museum no. A.41-1953).

Pope Clement XIV (Lorenzo Ganganelli; 1705-1774) had a particularly friendly relationship with the British in Rome and was liked for his bonhomie, his refusal to recognise the exiled Stuarts as the rightful kings of England, and his strong action against the Jesuits. The Irish born sculptor Christopher Hewetson, active in Rome from 1765, made a first portrait of the Pope in 1771 which soon became very popular among British visitors. Other versions were then produced, including this one in 1773 for Talbot.

Four other versions in marble are known: one, dated 1771 is at Beningbrough Hall, York. A second one, dated 1772, executed for Lord Hylton at Ammerdown was purchased by the National Gallery of Scotland (NG 2525) in 1990. A third, signed and also dated 1772 is at Gorehambury, Hertfordshire. The fourth marble is at Yale Center for British Art, New Haven (B1977.14.14). Finally, a plaster version, previsously ascribed arroneously to Antonio Canova is at Bassano del Grappa, Museo Civico.

Christopher Hewetson (1737/38-1798) was born in Kilkenny, Ireland and worked in Dublin before moving to Rome in 1765, where he remained for the rest of his life. He specialised in portrait busts of British visitors on the Grand Tour and established himself as one of the prominent British sculptors working in Rome at that time.