Giambologna, born as Jean Boulogne, also known as Giovanni Da Bologna and Giovanni Bologna (1529 - August 13, 1608), was a sculptor, known for his marble and bronze statuary in a late Renaissance or Mannerist style.
Giambologna was born in Douai, Flanders. After youthful studies in Antwerp with the architect-sculptor Jacques du Broeucq,', he moved to Italy in 1550, and studied in Rome. Giambologna made detailed study of the sculpture of classical antiquity. He was also much influenced by Michelangelo, but developed his own Mannerist style, with perhaps less emphasis on emotion and more emphasis on refined surfaces, cool elegance and beauty. Pope Pius IV gave Giambologna his first major commission, the colossal bronze Neptune and subsidiary figures for the Fountain of Neptune (the base designed by Tommaso Laureti, 1566) in Bologna. Giambologna spent his most productive years in Florence, where he had settled in 1553. He became the Medici court sculptor, and died in Florence at the age of 79. He was interred in a chapel he designed himself in the Santissima Annunziata.
Giambologna became well known for a fine sense of action and movement, and a refined, differentiated surface finish. Among his most famous works are the Mercury (of which he did four versions), poised on one foot, supported by a zephyr. The god raises one arm to point heavenwards, in a gesture borrowed from the repertory of classical rhetoric that is characteristic of Giambologna's maniera.
"Portrait of Giovanni Bologna" by Hendrick Goltzius
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Art%20Museum/Goltzius-Bologna.png
The Rape of the Sabine Women (1574-82), Florence.
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Art%20Museum/Giambologna_raptodasabina.jpg
Hercules and Nessus (1599), Florence
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Art%20Museum/Giambologna_herculesenesso.jpg
This sculpture exemplifies his stylization of the female form, elongated limbs
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Art%20Museum/GiovanniFloArch.jpg
(All text taken from Wikipedia. All images are public domain.)
Giambologna was born in Douai, Flanders. After youthful studies in Antwerp with the architect-sculptor Jacques du Broeucq,', he moved to Italy in 1550, and studied in Rome. Giambologna made detailed study of the sculpture of classical antiquity. He was also much influenced by Michelangelo, but developed his own Mannerist style, with perhaps less emphasis on emotion and more emphasis on refined surfaces, cool elegance and beauty. Pope Pius IV gave Giambologna his first major commission, the colossal bronze Neptune and subsidiary figures for the Fountain of Neptune (the base designed by Tommaso Laureti, 1566) in Bologna. Giambologna spent his most productive years in Florence, where he had settled in 1553. He became the Medici court sculptor, and died in Florence at the age of 79. He was interred in a chapel he designed himself in the Santissima Annunziata.
Giambologna became well known for a fine sense of action and movement, and a refined, differentiated surface finish. Among his most famous works are the Mercury (of which he did four versions), poised on one foot, supported by a zephyr. The god raises one arm to point heavenwards, in a gesture borrowed from the repertory of classical rhetoric that is characteristic of Giambologna's maniera.
"Portrait of Giovanni Bologna" by Hendrick Goltzius
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Art%20Museum/Goltzius-Bologna.png
The Rape of the Sabine Women (1574-82), Florence.
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Art%20Museum/Giambologna_raptodasabina.jpg
Hercules and Nessus (1599), Florence
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Art%20Museum/Giambologna_herculesenesso.jpg
This sculpture exemplifies his stylization of the female form, elongated limbs
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Art%20Museum/GiovanniFloArch.jpg
(All text taken from Wikipedia. All images are public domain.)