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Leone de Lazara

Bust
mid fifteenth century (carved)
Artist/Maker
Bellano, Bartolomeo (style of)
Place of origin
Padua (made)

This bust represents Leone de Lazara and is made in Padua in the style of Bartolomeo Bellano. Leone de Lazara was from a noble family in Padua. In 1406, when still very young he was appointed to a canonry in the cathedral of Padua. He studied at the University of Padua and was made a lecturer in civil law in 1423. The inscription beneath the bust refers to this appointment. Lazara became a well known figure in Padua, and in 1454 was chosen to reform the statutes of the city. In 1424 he married Lucia de' Vitaliani. He died in 1470.
The bust which seems to be based on a death mask, may date from about this time


Object details

Categories
Portraits
Sculpture
Object type
Bust
TitleLeone de Lazara (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Istrian stone
Istrian Stone
Brief description
Bust, Istrian stone, Leone de Lazara, in the style of Bartolomeo Bellano, Padua, middle of 15th century
Physical description
The figure is wearing a flat academic cap and a gown with a sash over the right shoulder. He is reading from an open volume held before him in both hands. An inscription appears.
Dimensions
  • Height: 59.7cm
  • Width: 67cm
  • Depth: 50.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
(The sitter can be identified as Leone de Lazara through an inscription on a separate stone slab, possibly a later addition to substitute an original.)
Credit line
Given by Mr. F. Cavendish-Bentinck
Object history
Given by Mr. F. Cavendish-Bentinck. Presumably acquired for the Cavendish-Bentinck collection in Venice.
Subjects depicted
Book
Hat
Robe
Lazara, Leone De
Summary
This bust represents Leone de Lazara and is made in Padua in the style of Bartolomeo Bellano. Leone de Lazara was from a noble family in Padua. In 1406, when still very young he was appointed to a canonry in the cathedral of Padua. He studied at the University of Padua and was made a lecturer in civil law in 1423. The inscription beneath the bust refers to this appointment. Lazara became a well known figure in Padua, and in 1454 was chosen to reform the statutes of the city. In 1424 he married Lucia de' Vitaliani. He died in 1470.
The bust which seems to be based on a death mask, may date from about this time
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, pp. 338, 9
  • Negri Arnoldi, Franceso, 'Scultura Italiana al Victoria and Albert Museum I&II. In: Commentari, anno XXI, June-July 1970. Fascicoli, pp. 216
  • Carrington, J. Sculpted Tombs of the Professors in Padua, c. 1358 - c. 1557 PhD Dissertation, University of Michigan. Ann Arbor, 1996, pp. 134-139
  • Callegari, R 'Opere e commitenze d'arte rinascimentale a Padova' in Scritti sull'Arte Padovana del Rinascimento, Udine, 1998, p.35
  • Bandera, S., Burns, H. et al, Andrea Mantegna: Rivedere l'antico, construire il moderno, Turin: Palazzo Madama, 2019, pp.90-91, cat. I.24.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.71-1949

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O17212/leone-de-lazara-bust-bellano-bartolomeo/
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