19th Imposing Gilt Bronze Sculpture Bartolomeo Colleoni On Horseback

Imposing gilded bronze sculpture representing the chef Bartolomeo Colleoni on horseback after the original by Verrocchio located in Campo San Zanipolo in Venice.
French work from the second half of the 19th century.
On its original marble base.

Bartolomeo Colleoni was a leader who fought with his army of mercenaries for the Kingdom of Naples and for the Serenissima. Andrea del Verrocchio obtained the commission in 1480 and created the statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni between 1480 and 1488. The work is considered the second statue of a Renaissance leader on horseback. The first is that dedicated to Gattamelata in Padua, created by Donatello around 1446-1453.
The artist began designing the sculpture in his studio in Florence. Verrocchio completed a wax model in 1481 which he sent to Venice. After sending the wax model, he left for Venice in 1486. According to Vasari, however, the patrons decided to attribute the figure of the captain to Vellano da Padova and the horse to Verrocchio. The enraged artist tore up the work he was already preparing for the cast of the animal and returned to Florence.
La Signoria therefore threatened to execute the sculptor if he was captured in Venice. After an exchange of letters, Verrocchio returned to the lagoon to complete the work. After reassembling the model he had destroyed, he set about creating the armor for fusion. The Monument to Bartolomeo Colleoni was completed in 1488 shortly after the death of Andrea del Verrocchio, who died the same year.

Richly chiselled, superb original gilding, perfect condition.

Measures
Total height cm 50
L total cm 38
P tot cm 23