Medici Lion. Patinated bronze with transparent hazelnut lacquer. First half of the 19th century. Non-contemporary wooden base.

14 x 20 x 8 cm

On the steps of the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence, two lions holding a ball face each other.
As you ascend the staircase, the lion on the right is archaeological and comes from the Villa Medici in Rome. The lion shown here refers to that.

The lion on the left was created by Flaminio Vacca in the 16th century as a companion piece to the archaeological one. His signature is visible on the marble of the loggia.

The lion now offered at the Bertolami auction reproduces the archaeological bronze one.

Another example of Florentine love for Italian art during the Grand Tour era. These reproductions of classical works were a sort of souvenir for wealthy foreign travelers.