The bronze boar that stands watch over our
Little Rock office represents a long and well traveled history. It is a
copy of a copy, the original marble of an unknown ancient Greek artist being
copied and cast into bronze in 1620 by Italian artist, Pietro Tacca. The
ancient Greek marble sculpture, "Cinghiale", is now in the Uffizi Gallery in
Florence.
The "original" bronze greeted visitors to the
Florence Straw Market until 1962, when it was moved to the Borgello Museum in Florence for fear
so much rubbing of its snout for good luck by passers-by eventually would ruin
it.
The original casting having been retained, a new
bronze was made to replace the "original" of the Florence Straw Market.
Just as one can see a copy of Michelangelo's
David on the Plaza and miss the original protected in the museum, one can see a
copy of Porcellino at the Florence Straw Market and miss Tacca's original, now
housed in the Borgello Museum.
Since 1962 approximately fifteen other copies
have been made, including one displayed in the Louvre and another given to the
City of Aix en Provence by the City of Florence.
For some reason, we have noticed a special
affinity for Porcellino in Arkansas! You are welcome to rub its snout for
good luck - just as we do!
