9. Romolo Ferrucci del Tadda
Mostaccini Fountain
c. 1620
Pietra serena stone
Length 750 x max. height 120 x min. height 65
Boboli Garden
Inv. Boboli Scult. no. 145
Description of the artwork
Attributed to Romolo Ferrucci, known as Del Talda (1544–1621), this long chain of water known as the Mostaccini Fountain, possibly on account of the presence of moustachioed figures, forms part of the new area of the Medici garden designed by Giulio Parigi for Cosimo II and laid out around the spectacular plant architecture in the 17th century. This unique waterwork, built in 1620, consists of a narrow channel with sixteen steps adorned with the same number of heads of fantastic beasts, from whose mouths water spouts into a small triangular basin carved out of the stone below before running on down a very narrow channel to the next mask, and so on until the end of the waterwork (Giardino di Boboli, Litta Medri).
Causes of deterioration
Biological aggression caused by exposure to the elements and by the presence of vegetation inside the work.
Restoration and conservation
Description of operations required
Cleaning, removal of biological aggression, and consolidation of the surface. Consolidation of any fractured parts with epoxy resin injections, reconstruction of sculpted areas with waterproof lime mortar with added stone powder and natural pigments, puttying, and final protection.
Maintenance
Removal of biological patinas using soft-bristle brushes followed by rinsing with demineralised water. Consolidation of any parts showing signs of pulverisation, and protective treatment. Operations to be performed without scaffolding.
Remarks
Periodical monitoring for the removal of detritus preventing the normal flow of water in the central channel, and monitoring of the masks’ lead tongues.
Comprehensive estimated cost
Restoration, to include cleaning, consolidation, protection and renovation: € € 25,000.00
Proposed by Paola Ruggieri
