TACCA, Pietro
(b. 1577, Carrara, d. 1640, Firenze)

Francesco I de' Medici

c. 1611 (cast)
Bronze, height 77 cm
Metropolitan Museum of Art

The bust of Francesco I de' Medici (1541-1587), Grand Duke of Tuscany, was modeled by Giambologna and cast by his assistant Pietro Tacca.

This imposing portrait of Grand Duke Francesco I de' Medici dates between 1585, when he received the Order of the Golden Fleece (the badge dangles prominently from a chain around his neck) and 1587, when he died. The model for the bronze clearly owes its character to the premier sculptor of the Medici family, Giambologna. Yet its facture is consistent with sculptures that Giambologna produced later in his career, specifically the work characteristic of his principal studio assistant, Pietro Tacca. Documents bear out the supposition that this sculpture is a later interpretation by Tacca of the older master's concept.