DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57409#0501
DONATO.
485
and confessors, and above these figures are two shallow niches,
in one of which are San Lorenzo and San Stefano, in the
other San Cosimo and San Damiano.* In the transept of
the church also, Donatello executed four figures of saints in
stucco,t each five braccia high, which are very well finished.
The bronze pulpits were likewise constructed under his di-
rection ; and the passion of Christ^ represented thereon, is
a work in which drawing, force, and invention, are alike re-
markable, with a rich variety in the figures and building.
This work Donato was prevented by age from completing
himself, and it was finished by his disciple Bertoldo,§ who
brought it to the utmost perfection. In Santa Maria del
Fiore are two colossal figures of brick and stucco, by Dona-
tello, they stand without the church, and serve as ornaments
to the angles of the chapels.|| Over the door of Santa Croce
is still to be seen a statue of San Lodovico, in bronze, five
braccia high, from the hand of Donatello, who being re-
proached for having made the figure stupid and clumsy,—(it
is perhaps the worst, or in any case the least meritorious of
his works)—replied, that he had done so of set purpose, since
the saint certainly must have been a stupid fellow to leave
his sovereignty and make himself a monk.^T For Cosimo de’
Medici, the same master executed the bust of his wife** in
bronze, and this is still preserved in the treasury of our lord
the Duke Cosimo,ff where are many other works in bronze and
marble from the hand of Donato ; among others a Virgin in
marble, with the Child in her arms, in very low relief, than
which it is not possible to see anything more beautiful, and
* All these works still exist.—Masselli.
f They were destroyed by exposure to the weather, and were re-
placed by others.—Ibid.
J Cicognara gives an engraving of this work, to which he accords due
praise. See vol. ii, pl. 7. Richa also gives a plate of these bassi-
rilievi.
§ “ Who certainly,” remarks Cicognara, “ has not laid hands on the
work of his master without extreme discretion and much careful
thought.”
|| These figures have been destroyed by exposure to the weather.—
Masselli.
The figure of St. Louis is still in its place. Bottari thinks it needful
to observe that Donato must have been jesting.
** This lady was born Countess Bardi di Vernio.—Schorn.
tf This work has disappeared, as has also the bust of the duchess.—
Masselli.
485
and confessors, and above these figures are two shallow niches,
in one of which are San Lorenzo and San Stefano, in the
other San Cosimo and San Damiano.* In the transept of
the church also, Donatello executed four figures of saints in
stucco,t each five braccia high, which are very well finished.
The bronze pulpits were likewise constructed under his di-
rection ; and the passion of Christ^ represented thereon, is
a work in which drawing, force, and invention, are alike re-
markable, with a rich variety in the figures and building.
This work Donato was prevented by age from completing
himself, and it was finished by his disciple Bertoldo,§ who
brought it to the utmost perfection. In Santa Maria del
Fiore are two colossal figures of brick and stucco, by Dona-
tello, they stand without the church, and serve as ornaments
to the angles of the chapels.|| Over the door of Santa Croce
is still to be seen a statue of San Lodovico, in bronze, five
braccia high, from the hand of Donatello, who being re-
proached for having made the figure stupid and clumsy,—(it
is perhaps the worst, or in any case the least meritorious of
his works)—replied, that he had done so of set purpose, since
the saint certainly must have been a stupid fellow to leave
his sovereignty and make himself a monk.^T For Cosimo de’
Medici, the same master executed the bust of his wife** in
bronze, and this is still preserved in the treasury of our lord
the Duke Cosimo,ff where are many other works in bronze and
marble from the hand of Donato ; among others a Virgin in
marble, with the Child in her arms, in very low relief, than
which it is not possible to see anything more beautiful, and
* All these works still exist.—Masselli.
f They were destroyed by exposure to the weather, and were re-
placed by others.—Ibid.
J Cicognara gives an engraving of this work, to which he accords due
praise. See vol. ii, pl. 7. Richa also gives a plate of these bassi-
rilievi.
§ “ Who certainly,” remarks Cicognara, “ has not laid hands on the
work of his master without extreme discretion and much careful
thought.”
|| These figures have been destroyed by exposure to the weather.—
Masselli.
The figure of St. Louis is still in its place. Bottari thinks it needful
to observe that Donato must have been jesting.
** This lady was born Countess Bardi di Vernio.—Schorn.
tf This work has disappeared, as has also the bust of the duchess.—
Masselli.