Jean (de) Boulogne (1529–1608) was a Flemish sculptor whose name would later be Italianised to Giovanni da Bologna or Giambologna.
Like many northern European artists, Giambologna moved to Italy in order to study classical antiquities. He would eventually be enticed to work for the Medici rulers of Florence, who recognised his talent and appreciated his business-like approach to commissions.
As court sculptor to the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, he created many monumental masterpieces in marble and bronze which still embellish public spaces and museums in Florence. These include his Abduction of a Sabine Woman, his Hercules and Centaur (both Loggia dei Lanzi) and the equestrian bronze of Cosimo I de’ Medici (Piazza della Signoria).
Giambologna’s works were not only technically brilliant in terms of finish, they were equally admired for their compositional three-dimensionality, and the fact that they demanded to be observed from numerous viewpoints. But more importantly for Giambologna’s legacy was that he was also a master of the small-scale bronze, a talent which endeared him to his Medicean patrons, who recognised the diplomatic value of sending his jewel-like creations to fellow European rulers with whom they wished to curry favour.
The appearance of these bronzes in numerous courts across the continent meant that Giambologna’s artistic influence was widespread and long-lasting. Giambologna’s fame also continued well after his death. His studio ‘assistants’, the most important being Antonio Susini (active 1580–1624), who were considered masters themselves, continued to produce Giambologna’s brilliant models until the middle of the 17th century.
A BRONZE GROUP OF THE RAPE OF A SABINE
BY GIAMBOLOGNA (C.1529-1608), FLORENCE, CIRCA 1587-98
A BRONZE FIGURE OF VENUS DRYING HERSELF
FROM A MODEL BY GIAMBOLOGNA (1529-1608), THE CAST ATTRIBUTED TO ANTONIO SUSINI (1558-1624), CIRCA 1585-1600
GROUPE REPRESENTANT L'ENLEVEMENT D'UNE SABINE
D'APRES GIAMBOLOGNA (1529-1608) ET ATTRIBUE A FERDINANDO TACCA (1619-1686), VERS 1650-1660
PAIRE DE GROUPES EN BRONZE REPRESENTANT HERCULE ET UN CENTAURE AINSI QU'HERCULE TERRASSANT ACHELOUS SOUS LA FORME D'UN TAUREAU
D'APRES GIAMBOLOGNA (1529-1608) ET PIETRO TACCA (1577-1640), TRAVAIL PROBABLEMENT FRANCAIS, PREMIERE MOITIE DU XVIIIEME SIECLE
A TERRACOTTA MODEL OF THE DWARF BRACCIO DA POGGIO FORNIONE, KNOWN AS MORGANTE, IN THE GUISE OF SILENUS
GIAMBOLOGNA (1529-1608), FLORENCE, CIRCA 1570-1580
A BRONZE FIGURE OF HERCULES SUPPORTING THE CELESTIAL GLOBE
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA AND PIETRO TACCA, ITALIAN OR FRENCH, LATE 17TH OR EARLY 18TH CENTURY
STATUETTE REPRESENTANT UN TAUREAU
D'APRES GIAMBOLOGNA (1529-1608), FLORENCE, PREMIERE MOITIE DU XVIIEME SIECLE
A BRONZE FIGURE OF THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST
CAST FROM A MODEL BY GIAMBOLOGNA, ATTRIBUTED TO ANTONIO SUSINI AND WORKSHOP, CIRCA 1580-1600
FLORENTINE, EARLY 17TH CENTURY
PACING HORSE AND BULL
ITALIAN, AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, 17TH CENTURY
A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF HERCULES
A BRONZE GROUP OF NESSUS AND DEIANIRA
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA (1529-1608), ITALIAN, FIRST HALF 17TH CENTURY
A BRONZE FIGURE OF THE GROTICELLA VENUS
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, ITALIAN, 17TH CENTURY
FIGURE REPRESENTANT UN BOURREAU
D'APRES GIAMBOLOGNA (1529-1608), ITALIE, SECOND MOITIE DU XVIIEME SIECLE
MODELE EN BRONZE REPRESENTANT UN CHEVAL CABRE
D'APRES GIAMBOLOGNA (1529-1608), 17e OU 18e SIECLE
FIGURE REPRESENTANT HERCULE
D'APRES GIAMBOLOGNA (1592-1608), ITALIE, DEUXIEME MOITIE DU XVIIEME OU XVIIIEME SIECLE
GROUPE EN BRONZE DORE REPRESENTANT L'ENLEVEMENT DE DEJANIRE
FRANCE, D'APRES UN MODELE DE GIAMBOLOGNA (1529-1608), XVIIIEME SIECLE
ANTONIO SUSINI (FL. 1580-1624 FLORENCE), AFTER A MODEL BY GIAMBOLOGNA, CIRCA 1600-1620
Peasant Resting on his Staff
A BRONZE GROUP OF A LION ATTACKING A HORSE
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, ITALIAN, 17TH CENTURY
A BRONZE MODEL OF A PACING BULL
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, ITALIAN, LATE 17TH CENTURY
D'APRES ANTONIO SUSINI (1558-1624), ALLEMAGNE, FIN DU XVIIe SIECLE
NESSUS ET DEJANIRE
A BRONZE GROUP OF THE RAPE OF A SABINE
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, ITALIAN, PROBABLY 19TH CENTURY
A BRONZE FIGURE OF HERCULES
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, 18TH OR 19TH CENTURY
A FRENCH BRONZE GARDEN TORCHERE FIGURE OF MERCURY
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, LATE 19TH CENTURY
A BRONZE GROUP OF THE VENUS BATHING AND CUPID
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, CIRCLE OF FRANCESCO FANELLI, SECOND QUARTER 17TH CENTURY
GROUPE REPRESENTANT HERCULE ET UN CENTAURE
D'APRES GIAMBOLOGNA (1529-1608), FRANCE, XIXEME SIECLE
A BRONZE GROUP OF THE RAPE OF A SABINE
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, FLEMISH OR GERMAN, 17TH CENTURY
A BRONZE FIGURE OF HERCULES
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, ITALIAN, EARLY 17TH CENTURY
A BRONZE FIGURE OF FORTUNA
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, FRENCH, LATE 18TH OR EARLY 19TH CENTURY
A BRONZE FIGURE OF A CROUCHING SOLDIER
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, 17TH CENTURY
A FLORENTINE MARBLE GROUP OF THE RAPE OF A SABINE WOMAN
LATE 19TH CENTURY, BY FERDINANDO VICHI, AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA
GROUPE REPRESENTANT L'ENLEVEMENT DE DEJANIRE
D'APRES GIAMBOLOGNA (1529-1608), FIN DU XIXEME SIECLE
A BRONZE MODEL OF A PACING HORSE
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, ITALIAN OR FLEMISH, 18TH CENTURY
A BRONZE SELF-PORTRAIT OF GIAMBOLOGNA
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, 17TH CENTURY
A BRONZE GROUP OF HERCULES AND THE ERYMANTHIAN BOAR
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, ITALIAN, LATE 18TH OR EARLY 19TH CENTURY
A BRONZE MODEL OF A PACING HORSE
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA (1519-1608), FLORENTINE, 18TH CENTURY
FIGURE EN BRONZE REPRESENTANT L'ARCHITECTURE
D'APRES GIAMBOLOGNA (1529-1608), FLANDRES OU FRANCE, XVIIIEME SIECLE
A PARCEL-GILT AND SILVERED BRONZE CORPUS
AFTER A MODEL BY GIAMBOLOGNA, POSSIBLY FLORENTINE, LATE 16TH/EARLY 17TH CENTURY
A BRONZE FIGURE OF MERCURY
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, ITALIAN, 18TH CENTURY
AN ITALIAN BRONZE GROUP 'A RAPE OF A SABINE'
19TH CENTURY, AFTER THE MODEL BY GIAMBOLOGNA (1529-1608)
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, ITALIAN, POSSIBLY NAPLES, LATE 17TH OR EARLY 18TH CENTURY
Lion attacking a horse
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, SOUTH GERMAN, 18TH CENTURY
HERCULES WIELDING THE CLUB
A BRONZE MODEL OF A PACING HORSE
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, ITALIAN, EARLY 17TH CENTURY
A BRONZE FIGURE OF ASTRONOMY
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, ITALIAN, EARLY 17TH CENTURY
A LARGE BRONZE GROUP OF THE RAPE OF THE SABINE WOMEN
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA (1529-1608), CIRCA 1950-1980
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, ITALIAN, 17TH CENTURY
ALLEGORICAL FIGURE OF FLORENCE
A BRONZE FIGURE OF MERCURY
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, LATE 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY
A BRONZE MODEL OF HERCULES SLAYING A CENTAUR
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, ITALIAN, 17TH CENTURY
A BRONZE FIGURE OF A CROUCHING SATYR
AFTER GIAMBOLOGNA, POSSIBLY GERMAN, LATE 16TH EARLY 17TH CENTURY