The Colossal Statue of the Apennines by Giambologna

c. 1653

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Stefano della Bella and Giambologna [Giovanni da Bologna]

The Colossal Statue of the Apennines by Giambologna

Artist: Stefano della Bella
Artist: Giambologna [Giovanni da Bologna]

The Colossal Statue of the Apennines by Giambologna

c. 1653

Physical Qualities Etching, Sheet: 249 × 384 mm. (9 13/16 × 15 1/8 in.)

Portfolio/Series From the series "Vues de la villa de Pratolino (Views of the Villa of Pratolino)"

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