55 - After GIAMBOLOGNA (Flanders, 1529 – Florence, 1608),

After GIAMBOLOGNA (Flanders, 1529 – Florence, 1608), “Bull.” Patinated bronze and wooden base. Measurements: 10 x 11 x 2.5 cm; 7 x 11 x 8 cm (base). This sculpture follows a famous bull model associated with Giambologna, conceived in Florence during the second half of the 16th century. The first documented casting of this composition dates back to 1573, within the context of Florentine patronage, and its success led to the widespread dissemination of the model through the sculptor’s workshop and that of his collaborators, including Antonio Susini. The figure underwent numerous variations and reinterpretations in the centuries that followed, becoming one of the most representative examples of the popularity of small animal-themed bronzes from the late Renaissance. Examples related to this tradition are preserved in major international collections, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, and the historical collections linked to the Medici family, now housed in the Bargello Museum in Florence. Giambologna, born Jean de Boulogne in Flanders and based in Italy, was one of the key figures of European Mannerism. His approach to sculpture, based on the elegance of form, anatomical study, and dynamic tension, exerted a decisive influence on the production of small-scale bronze works intended for princely collections and art cabinets. The reproduction of his models by his disciples and followers helped to extend his legacy far beyond his own era. The piece presented here depicts the animal through a synthesis of volumes and a compact silhouette, concentrating the bull’s strength and physical presence on a small scale. The patinated finish accentuates the continuity of the surfaces and enhances the sculptural character of the figure, conceived as an object for contemplation and collection. The wooden pedestal completes its presentation and allows one to appreciate it as a small freestanding sculpture.