Monday, February 25, 2013

Sea Monster

Sea monster fountain by Pietro Tacca, piazza Colonnella, Livorno
In the post Four Horses we were able to ascertain the prowess of the sculptor Pietro Tacca with horses, and we have not yet seen the last of it. He was also quite good at doing monsters of the sea variety, like this one on a fountain in our in Piazza Colonnella, at the west end of Via Grande.
Sea monster fountain by Pietro Tacca, piazza della Santissima Annunziata, Florence
Originally, the fountains (1629) should have been placed on the sides of the Four Moors, but the Grand Duke Ferdinando II liked them so much that kept them in Florence and had them erected by his ancestor's equestrian statue in Piazza della Santissima Annunziata (photo). We only got copies, after three centuries...

See also: Sea Monsters - Four Horses
External links: Pietro Tacca (Wikipedia)

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14 comments:

  1. RandyFebruary 25, 2013 at 2:31 AM

    Not something I would want to see everyday.

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  2. JackFebruary 25, 2013 at 3:54 AM

    Oh no. NIghtmares tonight.

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  3. tapirgalFebruary 25, 2013 at 4:41 AM

    He has a sealion's face :-)

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  4. DinaFebruary 25, 2013 at 7:54 AM

    Those sea monsters are really scary. No wonder the early mariners had fears.

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  5. cieldequimperFebruary 25, 2013 at 8:17 AM

    Yes, they are beautifully done.

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  6. Cezar and LéiaFebruary 25, 2013 at 12:46 PM

    Wonderful fountain and your pictures are great!
    I also love those bikes in the background( second shot)
    hugs
    Léia

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  7. HildaFebruary 25, 2013 at 1:23 PM

    I'm strange. I really like your sea monsters.

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  8. Luis GomezFebruary 25, 2013 at 3:27 PM

    These are beautiful VP!

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  9. Lois EvensenFebruary 25, 2013 at 3:58 PM

    Great art, but not very cuddly creatures. ;)

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  10. Traveling HawkFebruary 25, 2013 at 6:44 PM

    The first photo reminds me of a SF movie (I can't recall the name), where the extraterestrial hero looked the same:)

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  11. HalcyonFebruary 26, 2013 at 1:29 AM

    Uh-oh... looks a bit like they've overindulged and are paying the price!

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  12. Stefan JanssonFebruary 26, 2013 at 11:20 AM

    Monsters are fun.

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  13. PerthDailyPhotoFebruary 27, 2013 at 1:13 AM

    Wow the first image is fabulous VP, M. Tacca was very talented.

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  14. UnknownFebruary 27, 2013 at 5:10 PM

    This is just fabulous! Love it.

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