CELLINI, Benvenuto
(b. 1500, Firenze, d. 1571, Firenze)

Narcissus

1540s
Marble, height 149 cm
Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence

For carving his Ganymede, Cellini used Greek marble which Cosimo I de' Medici had ordered specially. Since the block was fairly large he managed to get a Narcissus out of it as well. Before transporting to the Bargello, this statue suffered considerable damage in the Boboli Gardens where it was kept in the open for long time.