A beautiful and most charming French 19th century cast iron fountain of a young boy holding a dolphin. The fountain is raised on an octagonal base and an elegant dome shaped support. The charming young boy displays finely detailed wings... — Read More

A beautiful and most charming French 19th century cast iron fountain of a young boy holding a dolphin. The fountain is raised on an octagonal base and an elegant dome shaped support. The charming young boy displays finely detailed wings on his back and is standing on one foot while holding a dolphin. All original patina throughout.

The original sculpture was made for a fountain for the Medici Villa at Careggi by Andrea del Verocchio in 1465. Vasari (1568) records that Grand Duke Cosimo I de'Medici of Tuscany (1519-74) brought this figure to Florence and had it set up on a new fountain in the first courtyard of the Palazzo Vecchio. The original fountain included three bronze heads and four marble lion heads, while the replacement, designed by Vasari, was of porphyry and marble. In 1959, the Putto with a Fish was replaced by a bronze copy, and is now displayed inside the Palazzo Vecchio. — Read Less