Neptune

Giambologna (ca. 1524-1608) was born in Flanders. He went to Rome to study antique sculpture from about 1550 to 1553 and then travelled back through Florence where he was persuaded to stay. He became sculptor to the Medici family and consequently became one of the most influential sculptors of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He drew attention to many artists from Northern Europe and disseminated his style mainly through small bronzes. He established an efficient and large workshop.

The status of the model has been thoroughly discussed by Pope-Hennessy. It has been accepted as the work of Giambologna by most scholars, apart from J.C. Robinson and Keutner, who preferred Ammanati as author. Gramberg identified it as a preliminary sketch for the full-size model of Neptune produced in clay by Giambologna for the competition held in 1560 over who should carve the statue of Neptune for the projected fountain on the piazza della Signoria.