Fountain;+Andrea+del+Verrocchio,+1488

[[image:fountain width="434" height="613"]]

 * Creator || In the Manner of Andrea del Verrocchio ||
 * Title || Putto with Dolphin (copy) ||
 * Work Type || sculpture ||
 * Date || 15th century ||
 * Location || Palazzo Vecchio (Florence, Italy) ||
 * ARTstor Collection || Italian and other European Art (Scala Archives) ||



Florence: fountain by Andrea del Verrocchio (c.1435-88) in the Galleria Palatina Picture from Wikipedia

**HISTORY:** Somewhere between 1465 and 1480, Andrea del Verrocchio created a bronze Putto (winged boy) with a dolphin, which was intended for a fountain in the Medici villa of Careggi. It was later brought to Florence for a fountain in the Palazzo della Signoria by the Grand Duke Cosimo de’Medici (Hopwood, 2009). **‍ **The artist of the fountain has never been found. There have been two investigations behind the origins of the fountain, but neither produced accurate results. Verrocchio is known to have been the author of the statue on the fountain, but this is the only fact we know today. However, we also know that the fountain predates the existence of the putto, or winged boy. They have also found through investigations that the great Michelozzo created the hydraulics for the fountain, which have left some to assume that together Verrocchio and Michelozzo built the fountain together (Butterfield, 1997). **‍ **The statue by Verrocchio has also been a topic of discussion and question throughout the years. As a student of Donatello, Verrocchio sculpted with a similar technique. Some critics argue that this statue is actually one by Donatello, where some critics agree that this is a replica of a statue done by Donatello. Scientists can prove that the work was created too late to be that of Donatello’s, however, the theory of it being a replica has never been proven. Today, the fountain has a replica of the bronze statue by artist Bruno Bearzi. Verrocchio’s putto is in the Palazzo Vecchio (Covi, 2005).

**SOURCES: **

Butterfield, A. (1997). //The sculptures of andrea del verrocchio//. Singapore: The British Library.

Covi, D.A. (2005). //Andrea del verrocchio:life and work.// Florence.

Hopwood, R. (2009). //Fountains and water features: from ancient springs to modern marvels//. China: First Frances Lincoln.

Passavant, G. (1969). //Verrocchio sculpture paintings & drawings.// London: Phaidon.