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The Colossal Statue of the Apennines by Giambologna
Public Domain

Stefano della Bella and Giambologna [Giovanni da Bologna]

The Colossal Statue of the Apennines by Giambologna

1647-1657

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The Colossal Statue of the Apennines by Giambologna

1647-1657

Physical Qualities Etching, Sheet: 249 × 384 mm. (9 13/16 × 15 1/8 in.)
Credit Line Blanche Adler Memorial and Print Funds
Object Number 1976.67.6
Giambologna’s personification of the Apennine Mountains appears to rise from the ground in an organic mass. The statue, located in the Medici gardens at Pratolino in Italy, is embellished with lava and stucco, so that the materials of the earth merge with the sculpted form. Stefano della Bella’s print effectively captures this dialogue between art and nature, using a lightly etched line to suggest both monumentality and fragility.
BMA, "17th Century Prints from Italy and the North," 27 May - 17 August, 1986.
Jay Fisher, BMA, "75 Years/75 Prints: Masterpieces from the Museum's Collection, 1914-1989," 1 April - 4 June, 1989.
Elizabeth Rodini et al., BMA, "Printed Sculpture/Sculpted Prints," 14 November 2007 - 23 March 2008, no. 7, p. 8.

Inscribed: Recto: below image, lower right, in plate "S.D. Bella" Verso: lower right, in graphite: "8 [in circle]"

Markings: None

Artist

Stefano della Bella

1609–1663

Italian, 1610-1664
Meet Stefano della Bella

Artist

Giambologna [Giovanni da Bologna]

1528–1607

Flemish, active in Italy, 1529-1608
Meet Giambologna [Giovanni da Bologna]

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