Sculpture

Small bronze statue of a walking horse. The model is directly related, in terms of its composition and the details of the mane and tail, to the horse from the equestrian monument of Cosimo I in Florence’s Piazza della Signoria. Its author, Jean de Boulogne, called Giambologna, a Medici court sculptor, drew inspiration for this great work from the statue of Marcus Aurelius on Capitoline Hill. According to the treatise writer Filippo Baldinucci, his disciple Antonio Susini was responsible for casting and completing the monumental group.
The early date of this piece is confirmed by the fact that it was already listed among the assets of the deceased Philip II at the Alcázar of Madrid in 1602. Documents held in the State Archives of Florence indicate that at least three replicas of this horse were cast between 1582 and 1583. It may have been among the diplomatic gifts sent by Prince Francesco de' Medici to Philip II around 1583.