Author
Jean de Boulogne - called Giambologna
Biography
(Douai, 1529 - Florence 1608)
Date
Half 16th century
Technique
Gesso sculpture
Size
Height 83 cm
Audioguide
Description:
Gianfranco Luzzetti was particularly fond of this sculpture by Jean du Boulogne, a Flemish Mannerist sculptor active in Florence, which depicts one of the Twelve Labors of Hercules.
The artist made this sketch - probably preparatory for a silver or bronze sculpture - for the rich Florentine banker Bernardo Vecchietti, who hosted him at his home in 1522.
The formal and stylistic features are precisely matched by a small bronze now in the Bargello Museum made by Giambologna himself and which greatly inspired coeval Mannerist sculpture.