Head of Medusa stolen a century ago to be restored

"The Head of Medusa, originally part of the Fonte della Fata Morgana, was created by Giambologna and misinterpreted as snakes due to its curls."

"The sculpture was lost for more than 100 years after being illegally removed in the early 20th century, reemerging at auction recently."

"The Cultural Heritage Protection Unit of the Carabinieri returned the Head of Medusa to the municipality, which owns the Fonte."

"The Fonte della Fata Morgana was built in the 1570s as an arcadian retreat and included a nymphaeum and a grotto."

The Head of Medusa, a 16th century marble sculpture, was stolen from a nymphaeum outside Florence and recently recovered. Originally part of the Fonte della Fata Morgana, it was created by Giambologna for Bernardo Vecchietti in the 1570s. The sculpture was misinterpreted as snakes due to its curls and was lost for over 100 years after being illegally removed in the early 20th century. It reappeared at auction and was returned to the municipality by the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit of the Carabinieri.

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