Monument to Gaston de Foix: Effigy

Gaston de Foix, the co-governor of Milan died at the Battle of Ravenna on April 11, 1512, less than a year after taking office. The French royal house immediately seized upon the occasion of his death to commission an extravagant tomb monument exalting his accomplishments and celebrating French rule in Milan. The project was commissioned from Agostino Busti, known as Il Bambaia, who had been trained in the somewhat precious manner of the Pavia workshops. It called for an idealized effigy, as well as a great number of highly-detailed historical reliefs in marble to be set within a free-standing architectural framework.