Two rearing white horses, their hind legs bent under the weight of their bodies.

The two figures rest on a rocky base, supported at the level of their hocks by military trophies with shields and weapons. There are quite a few horses listed in the inventory; on page 2, listed under A ”...N.2 Pezzi di bronzi… l’altro pezzo un piccolo cavallo di Giambologna...” ["...2 Bronze pieces ...the other piece a small horse by Giambologna..."].

In particular, Lankheit (1982, fig. 249) published a biscuit example, now at Doccia, which is very similar to this piece, even if it lacks the handsome military trophies which support the horses on display here. Lankheit links the figure (together with two other similar ones, figs. 247 and 248, in biscuit and wax respectively) to the one specified on page 89, number 12 in the Doccia Inventory of Models: “...A questo numero vi sono 3 cavalli di Gio. Bologna.Il primo che posa puramente con le gambe di dietro; il secondo con le gambe di dietro e la sinistra d’avanti, e la gamba destra per aria, il terzo posa puramente con le gambe di dietro sulla base con briglia alla bocca. Tutte con le sue forme” [Here there are 3 horses by Gio. Bologna. The first is supported entirely on its hind legs; the second on the hind legs and left foreleg, with the right leg raised, the third one resting entirely on the hind legs on the ground and wears a bridle with reins. All with their molds].

However, although the attribution remains quite probable, the utilization of a variety of molds on different occasions and the very fact that the iconographic type in question was so widespread exclude any certainty, as Lankheit himself points out; furthermore, we would add that the horses featured here clearly depend on depictions by a whole series of Tuscan artists, first and foremost, Tacca (see Pratesi 1993, III, fig. 660). (L.M.)