Hercules and the Cretan Bull

Giambologna

early 17th century · Bronze · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Giovanni Bologna modelled, ca. 1576, twelve Labors of Hercules for Francesco I Medici, mentioned by Simone Fortuna in a letter of 27 October 1581 to the Duke of Urbino, six of which were cast by Michele Mazzafiri in silver between 1576–89, and placed in the Tribuna of the Uffizi. All twelve Labors are known in bronze versions, which relate to the style of Giovanni Bologna, although both models and the silver statuettes are lost.

Artist

Giambologna

Date

early 17th century

Medium

Bronze

Culture

French or Netherlandish

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Jean A. Seligmann and Arnold Seligmann, in memory of Arnold Seligmann, 1933