Not on display

Head

fifteenth century (carved)
Artist/Maker
Desiderio Da Settignano (maker)
Place of origin
Florence (made)

This is a head of a boy in sandstone (pietra serena). The discoloration of the stone is explained by a tradition that the head was utilised as the weight of a clockwork spit in a kitchen in the Abruzzi. The angle of the neck suggests that the head may be a fragment of a decorative complex rather than an independent sculpture. It finds its closest point of reference in the putto heads in the frieze on the façade of the Pazzi Chapel, but is more coarsely executed, and seems to be the work of an imitator of Desiderio da Settingnano but not of a member of the Desiderio workshop.

Object details

Category
Sculpture
Object type
Head
Materials and techniques
Sandstone - pietra serena
Sandstone
Brief description
Head of a boy after Desiderio da Settignano. Florentine, 15th century.
Physical description
The head is represented bent over to the right, with open eyes and lips parted in laughter. The hair falls in a tress down the neck.
Dimensions
  • Height: 21.9cm
Subject depicted
Head
Summary
This is a head of a boy in sandstone (pietra serena). The discoloration of the stone is explained by a tradition that the head was utilised as the weight of a clockwork spit in a kitchen in the Abruzzi. The angle of the neck suggests that the head may be a fragment of a decorative complex rather than an independent sculpture. It finds its closest point of reference in the putto heads in the frieze on the façade of the Pazzi Chapel, but is more coarsely executed, and seems to be the work of an imitator of Desiderio da Settingnano but not of a member of the Desiderio workshop.
Bibliographic references
  • Maclagan, Eric and Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. London, 1932. p. 42.
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: HMSO, 1964. cat. no. 120. fig. no. 139.
  • Bellandi, Alfredo. Uno Stemma di Desiderio da Settignano. Nuovi Studi. 2. 1997, 4. pp. 33-40.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.6-1914

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O14756/head-desiderio-da-settignano/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest