Grand Tour "Equestrian Figure of Bartolomeo Colleoni", Andrea del Verrocchio

Description

Italian Bronze" Equestrian Figure of Bartolomeo Colleoni"with Base, After Andrea del Verrocchio (1435 to 1488), beautiful cast, amazing detail, chasing and patination. The sculpture is cast as an equestrian figure of Bartolomeo Colleoni, shown mounted on a striding horse with the right foreleg raised and the head angled slightly to the side. The rider sits upright in a forward position, wearing articulated armor composed of a breastplate, shoulder guards, arm plates, and leg defenses. A crested helmet frames his face, and he holds a sword in his right hand while his left arm rests near the saddle. The horse is modeled with a defined chest, muscular limbs, and a lowered head fitted with a bridle featuring chased strapwork. The mane is rendered in short textured locks, and the tail descends in a curved form. The bronze bears a dark patina with consistent surface tone. The group is mounted on a rectangular wood plinth painted to simulate marble, with molded upper and lower edges and a stepped base. The painted surface displays veining patterns, and the underside reveals the wood construction. This model follows the equestrian monument of Bartolomeo Colleoni designed by Andrea del Verrocchio for Venice. Verrocchio was a Florentine sculptor and painter active in the fifteenth century and is recorded as the teacher of Leonardo da Vinci. His equestrian monument to Colleoni became a reference point for later reductions and reproductions. Nineteenth century Italian workshops produced bronze versions of this composition for collectors during the Grand Tour period. The casting displays clear definition in the anatomical structure of both horse and rider. The armor is bordered with incised ornament, and the bridle and saddle incorporate chased decorative bands. The musculature of the horse is modeled with smooth transitions across the shoulders and flanks, and the facial features of the rider are articulated with defined contours. The scale, surface finish, and chased detailing correspond to Italian bronze casting practices associated with Grand Tour sculpture.

Details

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