GIOVANNI DA BOLOGNA, CALLED GIAMBOLOGNA EQUESTRIAN STATUETTE OF FERDINANDO I DE’ MEDICI The "Equestrian Statuette of Ferdinando I de’ Medici" (1549–1609) is part of the most outstanding sculptures in the Princely Collections. It is one of the few works signed by Giambologna whose Monument to the Grand Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici was placed in the Piazza della Signoria in Florence in 1594. Cosimo’s son Ferdinando commissioned his own statue from Giambologna about 1600; it has stood in the Piazza SS. Anunziata since 1608. Equestrian statues were highly regarded as a form of portraiture as they sympathetically expressed the subject’s power and dignity. This explains why miniature versions of them were favoured as diplomatic gifts. The bronze in the Princely Collections may well have been made for this purpose, too. Giovanni da Bologna, called Giambologna Equestrian Statuette of Ferdinando I de’ Medici, c. 1600 Bronze with remains of red-gold paint height 64 cm Signed on the girth: IOAN.BOLO.BELG. Inv.-No. SK575 Provenance: acquired by Prince Joseph Wenzel I von Liechtenstein in the mid-18th century Related themes Bronzes from the Collections of the Prince von und zu Liechtenstein		New acquisitions >>