Fountain of Bacchus
by CIOLI, Valerio, Marble
The grotesque marble statue on the Fountain of Bacchus depicts Braccio di Bartolo, also called Morgante, the most famous of the five buffoons who lived at the court of Cosimo I de’ Medici. He spent most of his life in the Palazzo Pitti. He was a very popular character during Cosimo I’s rule; he was famous and well-liked because of his sharp, witty tongue. Bronzino painted full-length nude portrait of him, with the front on one side, and the back on the other side of the same canvas.