AFTER ORAZIO MOCHI, LATE 17TH OR 18TH CENTURY

Saccomazzone was a sort of violent blind man's bluff, and the present composition, based on this game, was originally modelled by Orazio Mochi (1571-1625) in the early 17th century. A version in stone was carved by Ferrucci del Tadda and placed in the Boboli Gardens by 1621, and other versions in bronze exist, notably one formerly in the French Royal Collection (see Paris, Musée du Louvre, Les Bronzes de la Couronne, 12 Apr.- 12 July 1999, no. 36) and another in the collection of the Prince of Liechtenstein (see Frankfurt, Schirn Kunsthalle, Die Bronzen der Fürstlichen Sammlung Liechtenstein, 26 Nov. 1986 - 15 Feb. 1987, no. 24). Although all three bronze versions are of a comparable size, minor differences, particularly in details of the clothing, are noticeable. The naturalistic base is also unique to the present bronze, and suggests a French origin for this cast.