 Bernini began the preparatory work for "Truth Unveiled by Time" in 1645, during the critical period after the death of his main patron pope Urban VIII, and the figure of Truth was largely complete by 1652.Despite never completing the figure of Time, Bernini left the sculpture in his will in perpetuity to the first-born of the Bernini family; although in fact Bernini tried to sell the work to Cardinal Mazarin of France.It remained in the family (displayed on a tilted stucco block during the 19th century) until 1924, when it was purchased by the Italian government and transferred to its current home on a plinth in room VI of the Galleria Borghese.