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In 1616 Cosimo II granted Tacca the use for his lifetime of Giambologna's house, studio and models. After Cosimo's death in 1621, Tacca served Ferdinand II, retaining his position of major court artist. The first of the three major projects that dominated the second half of his career was the Four Slaves for the base of Giovanni Bandini's standing marble statue of Ferdinand I.
Tacca had been making studies from Moorish captives as early as 1607. The statues, installed by 1626, are remarkable for their emotional intensity and Michelangelesque composition.
The picture shows one of the four bronze prisoners.
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