Baroque sculpture in Florence
Submitted by walwyn 
      
    
    
In Florence, Baroque sculpture emerged prominently under the patronage of the Medici family, who sought to reinforce their cultural dominance and Catholic piety during the Counter-Reformation. Artists like Giovanni Battista Foggini and Girolamo Ticciati, active in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, brought the style to life. Foggini’s works, such as the marble statues in the Cappella Corsini (c. 1680s), showcase the Baroque penchant for dynamic poses and swirling drapery, yet they retain a Florentine elegance, with figures like saints or allegorical virtues exuding a refined grace rather than excessive drama. The use of marble, polished to highlight muscular forms and flowing robes, reflects the city’s mastery of stone, while the interplay of light and shadow adds a subtle theatricality.
