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Cane Tago

Cane Tago, meaning "The Dog Tago," is a terracotta statue erected in Bologna, Italy, in 1777. It was made by Luigi Acquisti and commissioned by Marquis Tommaso dè Buoi to celebrate the fidelity of his German Weimaraner hound. According to the source, the dog fell from a windowsill in joy when it saw its master return from a long journey. The statue was originally placed where the dog was said to have fallen, at the de’ Buoi house, now the Cultural Department of the Municipality of Bologna on via Oberdan 24. After about 200 years of weather damage, it was restored and later displayed at the local Museum of Archaeology. It is now housed in the Collezioni Comunali d’Arte inside Palazzo d’Accursio.

Cane Tago, a seated terracotta dog sculpture with a faint red collar.
Cane Tago shown as a seated terracotta dog in a museum setting.
August 2021 © · Public domain
Cane Tago, a seated terracotta dog sculpture on a rectangular base, facing right.
Cane Tago, a seated terracotta dog sculpture shown on its rectangular base.
December 2008 © Museo Archeologico di Bologna · CC BY-SA 2.5
Cane Tago, a sculpture of a seated dog on a cushioned base with an inscription.
Cane Tago, shown here as a seated dog sculpture on a carved cushion.
August 2021 © · Public domain
Lower part of Cane Tago, showing the dog sculpture’s four paws on a carved base.
The lower section of Cane Tago, with the dog’s paws resting on its carved base.
August 2021 © · Public domain

Identification

TitleCane Tago
TypeStatue

Historical context

Date erected1777

Creator

ArtistLuigi Acquisti, an artist from Forlì

Discovery and provenance

Commissioned byMarchese/Marquis Tommaso de' Buoi / dè Buoi
Commissioned in1777
Commissioned fromLuigi Acquisti, an artist from Forlì
Purpose of commissionTo celebrate / honor the fidelity of Tommaso de' Buoi's dog (the owner's German Weimaraner hound)

Iconography and meaning

Depicted eventThe dog, happy to see its master return after a long absence, leaned out of a windowsill/window gutter and fell to its death
SubjectA faithful German Weimaraner (Braco de Weimar) dog belonging to Tommaso de' Buoi
Title meaning"The Dog Tago"

Materials

MaterialTerracotta / earthenware (loza)

Appearance

Original colorsYellow for the fur; red for the collar; red for the cushion
InscriptionThe cushion bore the dog's name

Location and ownership

Original locationCasa de' Buoi / de’ Buoi House, inner courtyard of no. 24 Via Oberdan, Bologna, Italy; placed on the window above the spot where the dog was supposed to have fallen
Post-restoration display locationsLocal Museum of Archeology / Museo Civico Archeologico (Gipsoteca, briefly) / Collezioni Comunali d'Arte, Palazzo d'Accursio
Current locationCollezioni Comunali d'Arte, inside Palazzo d'Accursio, Bologna

History and restoration

Long-term display and exposureRemained in place for more than 200 years, exposed to the curiosity of Bolognese residents and to bad weather
Condition before restorationAtmospheric damage; the back portion was missing
RestorationCarefully restored in 2008 after atmospheric damage
Restoration outcomeOriginal colors were partially recovered; the structure was consolidated; debris/contents that could compromise stability were removed; the inscription on the cushion was restored