Upon his death, Bartolommeo Colleoni, an
esteemed Venetian military captain, left a bequest to the Venice with the
requirement that the city create an equestrian monument of him.
Having
studied Donatello’s Gattamelata in Padua, the Florentine artist Verrocchio undertook the
project between 1479-1496.
His Monument to
Bartolommeo Colleoni was a grand success. He
managed to create an equestrian statue that was more dynamic and more energetic
than Donatello’s Gattamelata.
The Colleoni monument was also a major
techical achievement. Aided by a Venetian bronze founder, Verrocchio
managed to lift the horse’s left leg in the air, placing him in a position
reminescent of the horse ridden by Marcus Aurelius. The figure of Colleoni
is equally active. Wearing military costume, he stands in his stirrups,
gazing outward at his foe.
