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*  1529 Douai
† 1608 Florenz


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Giovanni da Bologna
Biography
Giovanni da Bologna (Jean de Boulogne, Giambologna) without a doubt occupied a front rank among the leading Flemish-Italian sculptors of Mannerism.
Giovanni da Bologna was born at Douai in 1529, which then was part of the Spanish Netherlands. The young Giovanni da Bologna (Jean de Boulogne, called Giambologna) initially learned his trade from the Flemish artist Jacques Dubroeucq, who worked in an italianizing manner.
Around 1550 Giovanni da Bologna (Jean de Boulogne, called Giambologna) left his home country and headed out to Rome. In the Eternal City the young artist was deeply impressed by the later Michelangelo’s art.
In 1552 Giovanni da Bologna (Jean de Boulogne, called Giambologna) settled in Florence. Two bronze sculptures, a Bacchus and a Venus, count among Giovanni da Bologna‘s (Jean de Boulogne, called Giambologna) greatest works in Florence. Francesco de´ Medici soon took notice of the young artist. In the years that followed he would provide Giovanni da Bologna (Jean de Boulogne, called Giambologna) with many important commission works.
The final breakthrough was the Fountain of Neptune in Bologna which Giovanni da Bologna (Jean de Boulogne, called Giambologna) made between 1563 and 1566. Additionally, the sculptures for the Boboli gardens in Florence (1570) substantially contributed to his fame. What else is particularly worthwhile mentioning are his small plastics. Giovanni da Bologna (Jean de Boulogne, called Giambologna) shows all his talent in the exquisite, highly artistic small bronze statuettes. Giovanni da Bologna (Jean de Boulogne, called Giambologna) established a mannerist style, which, in its artistic dramatization, panache and vibrancy, even was a source of inspiration for baroque art of a Gianlorenzo Bernini.
In 1608 Giovanni da Bologna (Jean de Boulogne, called Giambologna) died at Florence.