Statues - Hither & Thither

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Piazza della Signoria

Cosimo I de' Medici

Firenze 1519 - Florence 1574
second Duke of Florence from 1537 until 1569, when he became the first Grand Duke of Tuscany (1569-1574)
(Wikipedia)

Giambologna
1594

Description

This statue follows the Classical Roman tradition of equestrian statues as the monument to a ruler's power, evident from the Statue of Marcus Aurelius in ancient Rome and the Regisole in Ferrara, and continued in the Renaissance.

The posture of the trotting horse in this statue is similar to those of prior statues, with right leg raised, however unlike Marcus Aurelius, Cosimo uses stirrups and his horse shows the restraint of the bridle, albeit without much tension. Cosimo, like Gattemalata, holds a military baton, armor, and sheathed sword.

The base of the statue has reliefs with scenes from the life of Cosimo, including his coronation in Rome as Grand-Duke in 1570 and his entrance into Siena as a ruler (1557) after his victory over that republic.

Firenze - Cosimo I de' Medici
ob zelvm rel[igionis] præcipvvmq.
ivstitiæ stvdivm

Coronation of Cosimo I in Rome as Grand-Duke of Tuscany in 1570

plenis, liberis sen. fl. svffragiis
dvx patriæ renvntiatvr

Cosimo is granted the title of Grand Duke.

profligatis hostib. in deditionem
acceptis senensibvs

Cosimo's entrance into Siena as a ruler (1557) after his victory over that republic.

This monument was commissioned by Cosimo's son Ferdinando I. A few decades hence, Ferdinando I would have his own equestrian monument in Piazza dell'Annunziata.

Inscription(s)

Cosmo medici ma
gno etrvriæ duci
primo pio felici in
victo ivsto clemē
ti sacræ militiæ
pacisq. in etrvria
avthori patri et
principi optimo
ferdinandvs f. mag.
dux iii erexit an.
m.d.lxxxxiiii.

Firenze - Cosimo I de' Medici

Sculptor

Giambologna, or Jean Boulogne, incorrectly known as Giovanni da Bologna and Giovanni Bologna (Douai 1529 - Florence 1608), sculptor, known for his marble and bronze statuary in a late Renaissance or Mannerist style (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

Wikipedia, Statua equestre di Cosimo I de' Medici, and in English: Equestrian Monument of Cosimo I.
Edoardo De Carli, Chi era Costui?
Kees van Tilburg, From Marcus Aurelius to Kim Jong-il: The story of equestrian statues throughout the ages (Amstelveen, 2017). – see also the Equestrian statue website.

Locatie (N 43°46'11" - E 11°15'21") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: itto040; Photograph: 8 May 2017
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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