Offered by Dei Bardi Art
Sculptures and works of art from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance
After a model by Gianbologna (1529–1608)
Pacing Bull
17th century
Bronze, on an ebonised wood base
H (totale) 15 x L 11,5 x P 8,2 cm
Since antiquity, the bull has been venerated as a symbol of strength and fertility. Following the horse, it became one of the most favored animal subjects in European sculpture of the 17th century. This elegant bronze represents a fine cast of a model attributed to Antonio Susini, a close collaborator of Giambologna and a prominent figure in the Medici court workshop.
Susini is believed to have created his version of the Pacing Bull while still working under Giambologna, drawing directly from the master's original conception. The present cast belongs to the extensive lineage of variants and replicas derived from this celebrated model.
Likely of Northern Italian origin and dating to the 17th century, this cast displays technical features consistent with that period. The result is a finely executed sculpture, imbued with both dynamism and sculptural finesse, characteristic of the enduring influence of Giambologna’s workshop.