Basilica of the Holy Cross, Florence, Italy
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Statue (Liberty of Poetry) atop of Giovanni Battista Niccolini’s tomb
Artist: Pio Fedi
Name: Statue (Liberty of Poetry) atop of Giovanni Battista Niccolini’s tomb
Medium: Marble
Size: roughly life sized
Date: 1877
Location: asilica di Santa Croce / Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence, Italy
Remarks: Inscription at the tomb.
"Atop playwright Giovanni Battista Niccolini’s tomb in the basilica of Santa Croce is a statue remarkably similar to New York’s Statue of Liberty (official name is Liberty Enlighten the World).
The Statue of Liberty (whose official name is Liberty Enlightening the World) illuminates New York with her torch and has precursor in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence.
The Florentine, statue represents The Liberty of Poetry, and thus the freedom of art and of creative genius in general; in her left hand she holds a lyre and a crown of laurel and in her right hand which is held aloft are the remnants of a broken chain, the symbol of defeated tyranny. She differs from her stem American cousin in her more feminine form, in the gentle grace of her pose.
The possibility that this statue sculpted by Pio Fedi was the inspiration, or one of sources of inspiration for her bigger sister cannot be dismissed: a plaster cast of Santa Croce statue – identical to the final statue - had already been completed 1872, after the preparatory drawings had been in circulation in contemporary artistic circles for some time. The statue in marble was commissioned for the tomb of Giovan Battista Niccolini (1782-1861) on the tenth anniversary of his death; it was completed by 1877 and installed in the Basilica and inaugurated in 1883 in honor of this hero of the Italian Risorgimento."
1800BasilicaBattistaCrossFediFlorenceGiovanniHolyLibertyMarbleNiccoliniPoetrySculptureStatueStatue GiovanniStatue of LibertyTombbrokenbroken chainchaincrowncrown of raysfemale figureneoclassicalneoclassical roberaysright armrobeschlegelstephenschlegelwomen
