Florence celebrates the artistic genius of Giovan Battista Foggini (1652–1725) with a great monographic exhibition to be held at Palazzo Medici Riccardi from April 10 to September 9, 2025. Organized by the MUS.E Foundation and promoted by the Metropolitan City of Florence, the exhibition marks the 300th anniversary of the death of the renowned late Baroque artist, who passed away on April 12, 1725.
Born in Florence on April 25, 1652, Foggini was a versatile artist who worked across multiple disciplines, ranging from sculpture to architecture. After studying at the Medici Academy and refining his skills in Rome, he returned to Florence in 1676, where he became the sculptor and architect at the court of Grand Duke Cosimo III de’ Medici and director of the Galleria Manufactory, specializing in the creation of hardstone and precious metal objects.
The exhibition traces the career of Giovan Battista Foggini through more than 80 works, including sculptures, drawings, and crafted objects. It begins with his early works, such as drawings and terracottas, and moves through to his celebrated bronze sculptures inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses and portraits of the Medici family. Also on display are exquisite decorative objects, such as the inlaid table from Palazzo Pitti, valuable reliquaries, and two important bronzes created for Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, which complete the exhibition. The sections The Antique and The Sun King highlight Foggini’s commissions in France, while the documentary section includes sketches, project notes, and correspondence that reflect the artist’s creativity.
The exhibition offers visitors the chance to explore a carefully curated selection of Foggini’s most emblematic works, showcasing his essential contribution to Florentine Baroque art. It is a unique opportunity to appreciate the artist’s stylistic evolution and his influence on the cultural landscape of the time, serving as a well-deserved tribute from the city of Florence to a key figure who shaped its artistic scene for over fifty years.
