A PAIR OF BRONZE MODELS OF SLAVES

THESE FIGURES DERIVE FROM THE SLAVES AT THE FOOT OF THE MONUMENT DEDICATED TO FERDINAND I DE' MEDICI IN THE PIAZZA DELLA DARSENA IN LIVORNO. THESE BRONZES WERE AMONGST THE MOST IMPORTANT PRODUCTIONS OF TACCA FROM MOULDS TAKEN BY HIM IN 1607 FROM REAL-LIFE GALLEY-SLAVES AND WERE PROBABLY ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR THE EQUESTRIAN STATUE OF FERDINAND ON THE PIAZZA SANTISSIMA ANNUNZIATA IN FLORENCE.

PIETRO TACCA (1577-1640) WAS ONE OF THE MOST GIFTED PUPILS OF GIAMBOLOGNA (1529-1608) AND UPON THE DEATH OF HIS MASTER, SUCCEEDED HIM AS THE SCULPTOR AT THE COURT OF THE MEDICI GRAND DUKES.