Donatello's sculpture exceptionally on view at Palazzo Venezia

Since July 12, 2018 and until April 28, 2019 a terracotta bust attributed to Early Renaissance master Donatello, usually housed in a private collection, is exceptionally on view at the Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia. This is an extraordinary event because the precious bust representing San Lorenzo is shown to museum visitors for nine months after being publicly displayed until now only on the occasion of temporary exhibitions.

Donato di Niccolò di Betto (Donatello), San Lorenzo, terracotta bust (62 x 47 x 74.5) cm, c. 1440, Kathleen Onorato Peter Silverman collection, temporary on display at Museo Nazionale Palazzo di Venezia

Donato di Niccolò di Betto (Donatello), San Lorenzo, terracotta bust (62 x 47 x 74.5) cm, c. 1440, Kathleen Onorato Peter Silverman collection, temporary on display at Museo Nazionale Palazzo di Venezia.

Donato di Niccolò di Betto (Donatello), San Lorenzo, terracotta bust (62 x 47 x 74.5) cm, c. 1440, Kathleen Onorato Peter Silverman collection

Donato di Niccolò di Betto (Donatello), San Lorenzo, terracotta bust (62 x 47 x 74.5) cm, c. 1440, Kathleen Onorato Peter Silverman collection.

The Florentine artist Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi, widely known as Donatello (Florence, c. 1386- Florence, 1466), is one of the most celebrated sculptor of the Fifteenth Century, who stood out from the artistic scenery thanks to his innovative gift and become one of the trailblazers of the Early Renaissance together with Brunelleschi and Masaccio.

Donatello executed the terracotta bust around 1440, while he was involved in the creation of the bronze David, so before his important stay in Padova.

Exterior lunette protected by a roof, displaying a copy of San Lorenzo bust by Donatello, Pieve di San Lorenzo, Borgo San Lorenzo (Mugello), Italy

Exterior lunette protected by a roof, displaying a copy of San Lorenzo bust by Donatello, Pieve di San Lorenzo, Borgo San Lorenzo (Mugello), Italy, via Wikimedia Commons.

Exterior lunette with a copy of San Lorenzo bust by Donatello, Pieve di San Lorenzo, Borgo San Lorenzo (Mugello), Italy

Exterior lunette with a copy of San Lorenzo bust by Donatello, Pieve di San Lorenzo, Borgo San Lorenzo (Mugello), Italy, via Wikimedia Commons.

Façade of Pieve di San Lorenzo, Borgo San Lorenzo (Mugello), Italy

Façade of Pieve di San Lorenzo, Borgo San Lorenzo (Mugello), Italy, via Wikimedia Commons.

The sculpture was destined to the main portal of the Pieve di San Lorenzo in Borgo San Lorenzo (Mugello), a Tuscan parish church located around 40 km north-east from the city of Florence. This position rather far from that artistic center contributed to leave the San Lorenzo neglected by the critics. The artwork passed through the collection of the Liechtenstein princes and it was noticed by the critics only in 2003, when the bust entered the collection of Peter Silverman and Kathleen Onorato.

In present times, the San Lorenzo is considered as one of the most reliable and essential new acquisitions to Donatello’s catalogue.

Donato di Niccolò di Betto (Donatello), San Lorenzo, terracotta bust (62 x 47 x 74.5) cm, c. 1440, Kathleen Onorato Peter Silverman collection

Donato di Niccolò di Betto (Donatello), San Lorenzo, terracotta bust (62 x 47 x 74.5) cm, c. 1440, Kathleen Onorato Peter Silverman collection.

Donato di Niccolò di Betto (Donatello), San Lorenzo, terracotta bust (62 x 47 x 74.5) cm, c. 1440, Kathleen Onorato Peter Silverman collection

Donato di Niccolò di Betto (Donatello), San Lorenzo, terracotta bust (62 x 47 x 74.5) cm, c. 1440, Kathleen Onorato Peter Silverman collection.

You find it here

Opening time: From Tuesday until Sunday, 8.30 am - 7.30 pm. The ticket office closes one hour before the museum closing time.

Tickets: included in the museum ticket (10€ full price) 

Organization: Polo museale del Lazio

Director: Edith Gabrielli

Website

The Palazzo Venezia is the most suitable location for Donatello’s bust to be displayed, since this museum, constituting itself a majestic and particular example of an Early Renaissance palazzo dating back to the 1450s, houses the most relevant collection of Renaissance artworks in the whole Rome, especially dating to the Fifteenth Century.

Entrance hall of Palazzo Venezia, characterized by a Renaissance barrel vault, which is the new entry to the museum from piazza Venezia, Rome

Entrance hall of Palazzo Venezia, characterized by a Renaissance barrel vault, which is the new entry to the museum from piazza Venezia, Rome. The vault shows squared coffers, following the example of classical architecture and it was built with the ancient casting technique. The hall has been attributed to Francesco del Borgo (ca. 1455-1465) but the possible intervention of the humanist Leon Battista Alberti has also been considered.

View of Rome at sunset from the Loggia delle Benedizioni above the basilica di San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio directly accessible from Palazzo Venezia

View of Rome at sunset from the Loggia delle Benedizioni above the basilica di San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio directly accessible from Palazzo Venezia.

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