A BRONZE FIGURAL GROUP OF NEPTUNE

In the 1560s, Giambologna was asked to produce a fountain of Neptune in Bologna for Pope Pius IV, who wanted to embellish the city in the same way as was happening in Florence. The nine foot high bronze statue of Neptune still adorns the fountain today. The most striking aspect of the modelling being the twist of the upper body to the right, offset by the strongly modelled, bearded head which turns sharply to the left. Highly visible and admired, like many of the Italian civic monuments, this Neptune was often reproduced on a smaller scale for the many Grand Tourists to bring back from their Italian travels.