Hercules and the Centaur Nessus

Created in 1599 by Giambologna, this marble group stands in Loggia dei Lanzi, the open-air gallery on Piazza della Signoria. Giambologna, a Flemish master born Jean de Boulogne, was a disciple of Michelangelo and one of the most important sculptors in the Medici court in the 16th century. The story is drawn from the famous myth that saw Hercules murder the centaur Nessus after he attempted to rape the great hero’s wife Deianeira. Join world-famous art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon in uncovering the true meaning behind this marble masterpiece.