A 19TH / EARLY 20TH CENTURY BRONZE REDUCTION OF THE EQUESTRIAN MONUMENT TO COLLEONI

A 19TH / EARLY 20TH CENTURY BRONZE REDUCTION OF THE EQUESTRIAN MONUMENT TO COLLEONI

after Andrea del Verrocchio (Italian, 1435-1488), probably Neapolitan, depicting the Condottiero in armour riding a horse, dark brown patination, raised on a marble plinth with a silvered mount inscribed 'MONUMENTO AL CONDOTTIERE / BARTOLOMMEO COLLEONI', the reverse with a silvered plaque inscribed 'TER HERINNERING AAN DE REIS NAAR NAPELS MEI 1925 H.P. INNEMPE', (In memory of the trip to Naples, May 1925)'

61cm high overall

Footnote:

This bronze is a reduction of the famous equestrian monument to the Condottiero Bartolomeo Colleoni by Andrea del Verrocchio. Verrocchio was commissioned to produce the sculpture in 1480 by the Venetian Signoria using funds left by Colleoni in his will. He began work on the model only to be told that they had changed their mind and given the commission to another sculptor; Verrocchio was so enraged at this that he smashed his model to pieces and left Venice in a rage. The Signoria soon realised their mistake and had to re-employ him at twice the previous rate; but these delays meant that the monument was still unfinished eight years later when the sculptor fell ill with a chill and died. It was therefore finished by Alessandro Leopardi.