Giovanni Francesco Rustici facts for kids

Giovan Francesco Rustici, as depicted in the 1682 edition of Academy of Sciences and Arts, containing the lives, and historical eulogies of illustrious men

Anghiari Battle after Leonardo da Vinci, Bargello museum

A Group of Warriors by Giovanni Francesco Rustici, Palazzo Vecchio

Giovan Francesco Rustici (1475–1554) was an Italian artist during the Italian Renaissance. He was famous for his sculptures and paintings.

Rustici was born into a wealthy family in Florence. This meant he had his own money and could focus on art. He learned a lot by studying the sculptures in the famous Medici garden. According to Giorgio Vasari, a well-known writer, Lorenzo de' Medici helped Rustici join the workshop of Verrocchio. After Verrocchio left, Rustici trained with Leonardo da Vinci, who had also learned from Verrocchio. Rustici even lived with Leonardo for a time. This was when he was creating bronze figures for the Florence Baptistry. His work clearly shows the influence of Leonardo.

In 1504, a writer named Pomponius Gauricus called Rustici one of the top sculptors in Tuscany. He was considered as skilled as artists like Michelangelo.

Life and Work

Rustici was known for giving fun dinners with his friends.

The Mercury Sculpture

In 1515, Cardinal Giuliano de' Medici asked Rustici to create a sculpture called Mercury. This statue was meant to be a fountain figure for the courtyard of the Palazzo Medici in Florence. The figure was designed to blow a stream of water. This water would spin a toy with four butterfly-shaped wings. This unique design was praised by Vasari. Today, this sculpture is in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, England.

Later Years in France

During a difficult time in Florence in 1528, Rustici moved to France. There, King Francis I supported him financially. However, after the king passed away, Rustici faced poverty. He died in Tours, France.

Rustici also taught other artists. For example, Baccio Bandinelli was one of his students.

Other Artworks

Some artworks made from glazed terracotta are believed to be by Rustici. These include a Madonna and Child in the Bargello museum and a Saint John the Baptist in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. These pieces use a special technique similar to those from the della Robbia workshops.

Important Artworks

• Bust of Boccaccio (1503): This sculpture was made for the tomb of Giovanni Boccaccio in Certaldo. [1]
• John the Baptist with the Pharisee and the Levite: These are three figures located on the Baptistery in Florence. Rustici was asked to create them in 1506.
• Mercury taking Flight: As mentioned, this was made for a fountain in the Palazzo Medici garden in Florence, likely around 1515.
• The Infant Jesus and Saint John the Baptist: This is a marble and onyx artwork in the Louvre Museum.
• Virgin and Child: A bronze plaque in the Louvre Museum, believed to be by Rustici.
• Battle scene: A terracotta artwork showing a horseman and four attackers. It clearly shows the influence of Leonardo da Vinci's drawings. This piece is also in the Louvre Museum.
• Fountain: A fountain design that is thought to have been created by Leonardo da Vinci. It is now at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

See also

In Spanish: Giovanni Francesco Rustici para niños