Florence:
Equestrian Statue of Cosimo I de' Medici
Equestrian Statue of Cosimo l de' Medici
In 1594, twenty years after his death, a grand bronze equestrian statue of Cosimo I de' Medici (r. 1537-74), the first grand duke of Tuscany, was unveiled in Piazza della Signoria.
It was the first statue of its kind to be erected in Florence and it was commissioned by Cosimo's second son, Ferdinando, the third grand duke of Tuscany (r. 1584-1609).
It was the first statue of its kind to be erected in Florence and it was commissioned by Cosimo's second son, Ferdinando, the third grand duke of Tuscany (r. 1584-1609).
Latin Inscription
A bronze plaque on the pedestal salutes Cosimo I as 'pious, fortunate, invincible, just, clement, best of fathers and princes'.
The man who created the sculpture was Jean Boulogne, a Flemish sculptor, who was known in Italy as Giambologna (1529-1608). Giambologna would go on to execute a similar statue of Ferdinando, which stands in Piazza Santissima Annunziata.
The man who created the sculpture was Jean Boulogne, a Flemish sculptor, who was known in Italy as Giambologna (1529-1608). Giambologna would go on to execute a similar statue of Ferdinando, which stands in Piazza Santissima Annunziata.