Page "Bartolomeo Ammannati" Paragraph 4

Another of his most important works was the marble and bronze Fountain of Neptune ( Fontana del Nettuno ) for the Piazza della Signoria.

The assignment was originally given to the ageing Bartolommeo Bandinelli.

On his death, Ammannati won the competition for the continuing of this assignment over other famous sculptors, such as Benvenuto Cellini and Vincenzo Danti.

He worked between 1563 and 1565 on the original block of marble ( chosen by Bandinelli ), together with his assistants, among which Giambologna.

He took Grand Duke Cosimo I as model for Neptune's face.

When the work on the ungainly sea god was finished, Michelangelo scoffed at Ammannati that he had ruined a beautiful piece of marble: " Ammannati, Ammanato, che bell ' marmo hai rovinato!

" Ammannati continued working on this fountain for another ten years, adding, in a mannerist style, around the perimeter suave bronze reclining river gods, laughing satyrs and marble sea horses emerging from the water.

The whole gives nevertheless a coherent impression.

The fountain served as an example for future fountain-makers.