Equestrian Monument of Cosimo I by Giambologna: Originality, Projection of Power and Artistic Details
Keywords:
Giambologna, Sculpture, Equestrian, Cosimo I, FlorenceAbstract
This article aims to study the bronze equestrian monument of Cosimo I by the Flemish sculptor Giambologna, made between 1587 and 1594, which still stands in Piazza Della Signoria, Florence, Italy. In addition to considering some interesting angles that may have been overlooked, the author analyzed this artwork within the conventional context of an official portrait. Three issues are explored here. The first one concerns the sculpture's originality for this is a direct image of a sovereign at the end of the 16th century, while other sculptures during this time period represented the subject in a symbolic way. Furthermore, this is a striking example of earlier models of equestrian monuments cast in the Roman period and during the Renaissance. The second issue emphasizes the power, projecting from the monument through the attitudes of Cosimo and the horse, its stability and harmony, and the story of Cosimo's glorious moments narrated in bas-reliefs on the base. The last point deals with some remarkable artistic details in the human figure, especially Cosimo's features and armor that are comparable to other artworks, and the animal's realistic anatomy.
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