Equestrian Statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni
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"I do not believe that there is a more glorious work of sculpture existing in the world." John Ruskin
Bartolomeo Colleoni (1400-75) was one of the many mercenary soldiers (condottieri) who were employed by the Venetian Republic to defend her territories. A native of Bergamo, Colleoni served the Venetian state for a long time and with considerable success. When the great mercenary died in 1475 he left an enormous sum of money to his erstwhile employers, on condition that an equestrian statue of him be placed in front of the Basilica San Marco, in recognition of all the battles he had won on their behalf. The Venetians did not want to forfeit the bequest, but the erection of a statue to an individual (and a foreigner at that) in the heart of the city was out of the question. Even doges did not receive such an honour. The powers-that-be duly came up with a very crafty solution. They would grant a statue to Colleoni, but it would be erected outside the Scuola di San Marco rather than the Basilica San Marco! The sculpture, one of the masterpieces of the Renaissance, is the work of the Florentine, Andrea del Verrocchio. As the master died in 1488, the casting was entrusted to locally born sculptor, Alessandro Leopardi (1466-1512). Leopardi designed the tall base and also, rather cheekily, inscribed his own name on the horse's saddle-girth: ALEXANDER. LEOPARDUS. V(enetus). F(ecit). OPUS. The statue was finally unveiled to the people of Venice on March 21st, 1496. It was an immediate success. Marin Sanudo (1466-1536), the diarist and indefatigable chronicler of Venetian life, wrote that it is 'a most beautiful work, and all went to see it.' Alessandro Leopardi, who soon came to be known as Alessandro del Cavallo, later designed and cast the beautiful bronze bases of the three flagpoles in the Piazza San Marco. |
Equestrian statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni
Equestrian statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni
Equestrian statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni
Alessandro Leopardi's inscription
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