Pietro Tacca

(Carrara, 1577 - Firenze, 1640)

School of

The model for this beautiful Crucifix was attributed by Charles Avery to the school of Giambologna, in particular to Pietro and Ferdinando Tacca. Pietro Tacca and his grandson Ferdinando were the heirs of Giambologna's grand ducal foundry, and they continued his work by inventing original models.

Two Christs, almost identical to ours, are held in the collection of Michael Hall, Paris, one in bronze and one in silver. The bronze one is attributed to Ferdinando Tacca, the silver one to an artist close to Giambologna, perhaps Pietro Tacca, due to Giambologna's modi operandi, such as square-shaped relief nails, similar also in our Christ.

Another iconographic reference can be Michelangelo's famous drawing of Christ in the British Museum. The position of Christ, the triangle-shaped loincloth, and the type of physicality are easily comparable with the crucifixes of Michael Hall and the one presented here.It is also worth mentioning that the measurements (28.8x28.8 cm) reflect the Renaissance taste of exhibiting the human body in a perfect geometry.