Donatello’s reputation as the great sculptor of the early Italian Renaissance was firmly established by the middle of the 19th century. This early work combines a classicising pose with a naturalistic portrayal of a youthful face. The original marble sculpture was executed for the external niche of the Armourers' Guild on the church of Or San Michele, Florence. The plaster cast was made by Monsieur Desachy, a Parisian cast-maker in 1864.

Plaster casts were especially sought after during the 19th century, when reproductions of great works of sculpture and architecture were thought crucial for the training of artists. A separating substance was applied to the surface of the work to be reproduced, and a plaster mould made from that. The mould would then be used to make any number of additional plaster copies. These were often sold to artists, and later in the century to art colleges for study purposes.