Record drawings of Giambologna's terracotta modelli for the fountain of the Apennine and for the fountain of Neptune, with a detail of the base of the fountain of Sampson, drawn by his assistant Pietro Francavilla.

On the front of the sheet are record drawings of Giambologna's terracotta modelli for the fountain of the Apennine and a detail of a fountain base for the fountain of Sampson. On the back is a sketch of the fountain of Neptune, pen and ink on paper.

Purchased with the assistance of the Murray Bequest and The Art Fund

Francavilla was Giambologna's assistant from 1580 until 1602. It is possible that he made these drawings as a record of the terracotta models stored in the studio. The sheets seem to have come from a sketchbook.

Historical significance: These drawings are important as they record modelli that are now lost, and a fountain that was never built.

The Apennine was a fountain built at the Medici Villa at Pratolino in 1577-1581. The Fountain of Neptune may have been that scheme rejected for the Piazza della Signoria in 1560. The Fountain of Sampson was commissioned by Francesco de' Medici for the Casino Mediceo. Executed in 1561-2, the figures were not incorporated into a fountain until 1569-70. After being shipped to Spain in 1601, the figures were given to Charles I of England by Philip IV of Spain. They are now in the Victoria and Albert Museum. These drawings indicate that Giambologna kept the preliminary terrcotta models for these schemes on wooden shelves in his studio.

E.695-1993