Bust of Cosimo II de' Medici in Armour

Italian
17th century, Bronze-patinated terracotta

The subject of this whimsical likeness is Cosimo II de' Medici, fourth grand duke of Tuscany from 1609 to 1621, when he died prematurely. The numerous busts produced during his reign portray him in contemporary armour with a shoulder sash and high rectangular collar. The bust exhibited here differs from traditional depictions and shows elements from a later period. The decoration combines different styles: beneath the imposing collar, a roman-styled mask is depicted whose moustache ends in elegant swirls above the cross of the order of St. Stephen.