River God: View of front

View of front ; This model was most probably made in connection with an idea for a giant River Nile for Francesco de'Medici's villa at Pratolino. The extraordinary and unique colossus, constructed primarily of brick, stone and lava, was completed in 1580 and houses a series of small rooms beneath and inside it, including a grotto with a fountain where Francesco entertained guests. This composition is a dramatic re-working of a classical River God, usually shown lying down and supported on one elbow. The sculptor, Giambologna, would have been familiar with the numerous surviving examples from h... Mehr ...