Active analysis THE GROTTO OF THE ANIMALS Midway through the 1500s, an ancient land-holding of Florence s Medici family was transformed into a beautiful park with a villa, a formal garden and fountains. Many artists worked on the villa and grounds; one was Niccolò Tribolo. It was his idea to lay out the huge garden behind the villa. One of the most spectacular features of the garden is the famous Grotto of the Animals . The plans called for a statue of Orpheus at the center of the artificial cave, but it was never sculpted. A mechanism at the entrance to the grotto refreshed visitors with sprays of water from the vaulted ceiling. Water also flowed from the walls onto the floor, which took on a brilliant, lively color. ARTIST NICCOL TRIBOLO E GIORGIO VASARI TITLE The Grotto of the Animals DATE/YEAR 1543 ca. LOCATION Villa di Castello, Florence Observe the Grotto and answer the questions below. 1 Why is this construction called the Grotto of the Animals ? ............................................................................................ ............................................................................................ 2 What are the sculptures made of? Wood. Marble. Differently-colored stones. Glass. 3 What animals do you recognize? ............................................................................................ ............................................................................................ 4 What technique was used for the flooring? Mosaic. Graffito. Watercolor. Choose the correct word or phrase. 1 The walls of the Grotto are smooth / covered with molded limestone concretions . 2 The form of the large basin in the grotto is oval / rectangular. 3 The animals are in bas-relief / freestanding. 49