Cosimo III de' Medici, b. 1642, Grand Duke of Tuscany 1670–1723 1671 - 1689

Giovanni Battista Foggini created this terracotta bust of Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, sometime between 1670 and 1723. It was a period when powerful families like the Medici used art to cement their legacy. Cosimo, the Grand Duke, known for his complex role in Florentine society, comes to life in Foggini's rendering. The bust captures not just Cosimo’s physical likeness, but also hints at the weight of his position and the expectations it carried. The ripple of the fabric at his shoulder seems to exemplify both wealth and the corporeal reality of Cosimo as a man. Consider how the choice of terracotta, a more accessible medium than marble, might reflect a desire to connect with a broader audience, or perhaps speak to the political climate of the time. What does it mean to portray power in such a way? The gaze of the sculpture carries a weight of history, class, and the burdens of leadership.