The artist Giambologna, who came from French Flanders, was originally called Jean de Boulogne. In 1555 he left for Florence and assumed the name of Giambologna, derived from Giovanni de Bologna. He grew into Florence's most famous sculpture after Michelangelo. Giambologna developed a mannered style of sculpture, in which a sculpture was equally dynamic and appealing regardless of the angle from which it was viewed. Giambologna was awarded many large commissions, including the Neptune fountain in Bologna, the group of statues forming the Rape of the Sabine Virgins in Florence and the mounted statues of the Dukes of Florence. In his studio, he had very large series of small bronze replicas made of these masterpieces. These were very popular with collectors and were spread by them throughout Europe.
Giambologna
Douai 1529 - Florence 1608
