Parco Mediceo di Pratolino, Vaglia

Giambologna’s Colosso dell’Appennino (1579–80) overlooking a pond in the Pratolino, a former Medici garden also known as Parco di Villa Demidoff. The giant was originally surrounded by an artificial recess, appearing to live in a mountain cave. It w…

Giambologna’s Colosso dell’Appennino (1579–80) overlooking a pond in the Pratolino, a former Medici garden also known as Parco di Villa Demidoff. The giant was originally surrounded by an artificial recess, appearing to live in a mountain cave. It was part of a greater arrangement of grottoes, fountains, sculptures, and automatons, most of which are gone today. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

An inhabitant of the giant’s pond. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz/Joshua Albers.

An inhabitant of the giant’s pond. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz/Joshua Albers.

Behind the giant: a dragon and two (now closed) grottoes. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Behind the giant: a dragon and two (now closed) grottoes. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Statue of Diana, Pratolino. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Statue of Diana, Pratolino. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Lizard of the Pratolino. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Lizard of the Pratolino. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Peschiera della Maschera (Fountain of the Masks) in the Pratolino. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Peschiera della Maschera (Fountain of the Masks) in the Pratolino. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Another frog living beneath the giant. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz/Joshua Albers.

Another frog living beneath the giant. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz/Joshua Albers.

The giant gets two pictures, because look at him. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

The giant gets two pictures, because look at him. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.