The sculpture of the Fountain of Neptune, created by Bartolomeo Ammannati in Florence, is a monumental work of great importance in the Piazza della Signoria. From the competition announced in 1559 by Cosimo I de' Medici to provide Florence with its first public fountain, Ammannati was chosen to carry out a project that took shape between 1560 and 1565; the inauguration took place on the occasion of the wedding between Francesco I de' Medici and Joanna of Austria.
The fountain's protagonist is Neptune, whom the sculptor depicts with the features of Cosimo I: the figure sits enthroned on a pedestal decorated with mythological figures such as Scylla and Charybdis, placed at the center of an octagonal basin. At the god's feet stand three tritons intent on playing "tibia" from which water spurts; at the corners of the basin stand sculpted groups of marine deities, each accompanied by a procession of bronze nymphs, satyrs, and fauns.
The work, carved primarily from marble, initially did not enjoy favor with the Florentines, who ironically nicknamed it "Il Biancone" (The Big White One). However, over time, the fountain has become a symbol of the city and one of the most photographed views of the historic center.
From an artistic and historical perspective, this work embodies distinctive elements: the fusion of mythological references and portraiture (the god bearing the features of the Grand Duke), the use of public space as an urban stage, and the desire to assert the Medici's power through art. The fact that the fountain was intended to be "public"—an innovation for Florence—makes it particularly significant in terms of urban planning and the artistic ideology of the time.
Finally, in terms of conservation, the fountain requires careful and complex interventions: the entire marble structure and the hydraulic and electrical mechanisms connected to the basin are subject to maintenance and restoration to ensure that the work continues to be enjoyed as a cultural asset in such a busy space as Piazza della Signoria.
If you'd like, I can find some historical images or original drafts of Ammannati to show its evolution to date.
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