Plaster cast of a relief of The Crucifixion with Attendant Saints after the bronze original by Bertoldo Di Giovanni in the Museo Nazionale (Bargello), Florence, second half of the 15th century

Plaster cast of The Crucifixion with Attendant Saints after the bronze original by Bertoldo di Giovanni in the Museo Nazionale (Bargello), Florence, second half of the 15th century.

Purchased from Oronzio Lelli in 1890 for 16s (20 lire)

Bertoldo di Giovanni was a pupil of Donatello (1386-1466) who towards the end of his life ran Lorenzo de' Medici's academy for sculptors where he taught the young Michelangelo (1475-1564). The Crucifixion comes from the Medici collection and is one of three works by Bertoldo listed in the inventory of Lorenzo de' Medici's possessions taken in 1492, the other two being the bronze Battle Relief, also in the Museo Nazionale, and a Centaur, which is now lost. The entry reads "Una storietta di bronzo di br 1 per ogni verso, entori uno Christo crucifixo in mezzo di dua 1 ladroni con otto fighure a pie....." (A small scene of bronze, measuring 1 braccia on all sides, with a figure of Christ on the cross between two thieves and eight standing figures....).

Bertoldo di Giovanni was a pupil of Donatello, who later ran Lorenzo de' Medici's Academy for sculptors, where he taught the young Michelangelo. The Crucifixion is one of three works by Bertoldo listed in the inventory of Lorenzo de' Medici's possessions of 1492. The piece was and is admired for its mastery of flat relief and the poignant emotive scene.

REPRO.1890-39