Fowler. Antonio Susini (1558-1624) School of. From a model by Giambologna, possibly 17th century. Brass with impurities (see attached examinations) Brown patina

30.5 x 13 x 18 cm

A very well-known subject depicting a type of night hunting in which birds were dazzled with a lantern, the "frugolo", and then hit with a club, the "ramata", of which engravings remain to testify to the methods used.

The bronze subject was invented by Giambologna and then replicated by his pupil and continuator Antonio Susini, as well as by other artists including Giovan Francesco Susini, nephew of Antonio (Baldinucci) and others not better identified.

The version considered to be by Giambologna is the one in the Robert Smith Collection, Virginia, while there are six versions believed to have been cast and chiseled by Susini: the most beautiful is considered to be the one in the Louvre, then the one in the Castello Sforzesco (Milan), then the one in the Detroit Institute of Art, then in the Saint Luis Art Museum, in the Nationalmuseum (Stockholm) and finally in a private collection in the USA.

To these I would also add the one in the Bargello (Type 1) (Florence) and the one attributed by "Tomasso Brothers Fine Art" and published in their catalogue in 2008 (catalogue by Andrew Butterfield). This version is the most similar to the one in the Louvre.

The version presented here is similar to the others and is distinguished by some formal differences, in particular the loss of the stick and the presence of the lamp inside the frugolo.

It is too difficult to delve into the attribution of the Giambologna bronzes; here the bronze is proposed as being by the Susini school, possibly from the 17th century.

To be studied.

Complete with league tests.

Bibliography:
B. Paolozzi Strozzi, Dimitrios Zikos, The Gods, the Heroes, exhibition catalogue, Giunti, Florence 2005.