AFTER ANDREA DEL VERROCCHIO (ITALIAN, 1435-1488): A LARGE 19TH CENTURY BRONZE REDUCTION OF THE EQUESTRIAN MONUMENT TO BAROLOMEO COLLEONI dark brown patination, with a rectangular base, raised on a stepped Verde Antico marble plinth with a plaquette inscribed 'BARTY COLLEONE GENERAL DE LA REPUBLIQUE DE VENISE 15 SIECLE PAR VERROCCHIO' 81cm high overall This bronze is a reduction of the famous equestrian monument to the Condottiero Bartolomeo Colleoni who served many years under the Republic of Venice. Verrocchio was commissioned to produce the sculpture in 1480 by the Venetian Signoria using funds left by Colleoni in his will. He began work on the model only to be told that they had changed their mind and given the commission to another sculptor; Verrocchio was so enraged at this that he smashed his model to pieces and left Venice in a rage. The Signoria soon realised their mistake and had to re-employ him at twice the previous rate; but these delays meant that the monument was still unfinished eight years later when the sculptor fell ill with a chill and died. It was therefore finished by Alessandro Leopardi.