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The Young St John

Statuette
mid to late fifteenth century (carved)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This statue representignt eh young St. John the baptist is a characteristic product of the Rossellino workshop, the type and features being closely related to those of the Madonna by Antonio Rossellino in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, and the hair recalling that of the Young Baptist in the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Antonio Rosselino (1427-28 - 1479) was the brother of Bernardo Rossellino, from whom he possibly received his first formal training. He was of the same generation of sculptors as Desiderio da Settignano and Mino da Fiesole and his stylistic approach resembles that of those sculptors rather then that of his brother.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Young St John (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Marble
Brief description
Statuette, marble, the Young St John the Baptist, by Antonio Rossellino, Florence, ca. first half of the 15th century
Physical description
The figure of John the Baptist as a child is carved in one with its rectangular base, the upper face of which is treated naturalistically. Its weight rests on the right leg. The body is covered with a skin worn over the left shoulder, and the hands are clasped in prayer.
Dimensions
  • Height: 59.2cm
Object history
Bequeathed by Frederick Leveaux, who bought the statue in Alexandria of an amateur art dealer during or soon after the 1914-18 war. The donor was told that refugees had brought it to Alexandria from Odessa (Odesa).

Historical significance: The statue is a characteristic product of the Rossellino workshop, the type and features being closely related to those of the Madonna by Antonio Rossellino in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, and the hair recalling that of the Young Baptist in the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Subject depicted
Summary
This statue representignt eh young St. John the baptist is a characteristic product of the Rossellino workshop, the type and features being closely related to those of the Madonna by Antonio Rossellino in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, and the hair recalling that of the Young Baptist in the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Antonio Rosselino (1427-28 - 1479) was the brother of Bernardo Rossellino, from whom he possibly received his first formal training. He was of the same generation of sculptors as Desiderio da Settignano and Mino da Fiesole and his stylistic approach resembles that of those sculptors rather then that of his brother.
Bibliographic references
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume I: Text. Eighth to Fifteenth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, p. 129, cat. no. 106
  • The Rival of Nature : Renaissance painting in its context, London : National Gallery, 1975 162
Collection
Accession number
A.10-1958

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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