Ferdinando Tacca (1619–1686) was an

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

sculptor and architect, active during the

Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

period in

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

Biography

He was the son of

Pietro Tacca Pietro Tacca (16 September 1577 – 26 October 1640) was an Italian sculptor, who was the chief pupil and follower of Giambologna. Tacca began in a Mannerist style and worked in the Baroque style during his maturity. Biography Born in Carr ...

, a sculptor active for the Medici in Florence. After Pietro's death in 1640, Ferdinado inherited his studio and bronze foundry in

Borgo Pinti Borgo may refer to the following places: Finland * Borgå France * Borgo, Haute-Corse Italy * Borgo (rione of Rome), a ''rione'' in the City of Rome. * Borgo a Mozzano, in the province of Lucca *Borgo d'Ale, in the province of Vercelli * Borgo ...

, where he produced both large equestrian monuments, statuary, and smaller-scale works for both local and foreign patrons. He helped complete in 1640 the bronze ''Equestrian Statue of King

Philip IV of Spain Philip IV (, ; 8 April 160517 September 1665), also called the Planet King (Spanish: ''Rey Planeta''), was King of Spain from 1621 to his death and (as Philip III) King of Portugal from 1621 to 1640. Philip is remembered for his patronage of the ...

'' in Madrid. He created the Crucifix for the Cathedral of

Prato Prato ( ; ) is a city and municipality (''comune'') in Tuscany, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Prato. The city lies in the northeast of Tuscany, at an elevation of , at the foot of Monte Retaia (the last peak in the Calvana ch ...

and the ''Fontana di Bacchino'', located in the city's main piazza. The fountain (1659-1665) depicts young Bacchus in bronze sitting around bunches of grapes. After 1650, Tacca also became a prominent stage designer and engineer. After 1656, Ferdinando was appointed engineer of the Medici buildings and fortifications. He designed the ''

Teatro Della Pergola The Teatro della Pergola (), sometimes known as just La Pergola, is a historic opera house in Florence, Italy. It is located in the centre of the city on the Via della Pergola, from which the theatre takes its name. It was built in 1656 under the p ...

'', built in 1656, commissioned by

Cardinal Giovanni Carlo de' Medici Cardinal or The Cardinal most commonly refers to * Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of three species in the family Cardinalidae ***Northern cardinal, ''Cardinalis cardinalis'', the common cardinal of ...

.Scenic Art for the Theatre: History, Tools, and Techniques
by Susan Crabtree, Peter Beudert, page 379.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tacca, Ferdinando 1619 births 1686 deaths Sculptors from Florence 17th-century Italian sculptors Italian male sculptors Engineers from Florence