Relief, 'Ascension with Christ giving the Keys to St Peter', marble carved in low relief, by Donatello, Italy (Florence), ca. 1428-30

The Ascension with Christ giving the Keys to Saint Peter, marble carved in low relief, with numerous figures, representing Jesus Christ delivering the Keys to Saint Peter. In the centre of the upper part of the relief is the seated figure of Christ, with head bent in right profile and right hand raised in benediction, presenting the keys with his left hand to St Peter, who stands beneath him on the right. In the clouds to right and left of Christ are four angels. Below and to the left of Christ is the kneeling figure of the Virgin in right profile with her right hand outstretched. Behind St Peter stand five apostles, grouped roughly in a semi-circle, and behind the Virgin are five further apostles ranged in a descending line. To their left, in the left lower corner of the relief are two standing angels. The scene is set in a hilly landscape.

The relief is slightly chipped along the lower edge.

The relief is one of the finest surviving examples of Donatello's work in rilievo schiacciato, literally 'squashed relief', a technique which he developed. It is recorded in the Palazzo Medici in an inventory made after the death of Lorenzo de' Medici il Magnifico in 1492, and in the Palazzo Salviati in Florence in 1591. The circumstances of the commission are not known, but several theories have been put forward. The suggestions that it may have been carved for the altar of the Brancacci Chapel in the Carmini in Florence, the painted decoration of which omits this important scene, is now largely rejected. It was, however, appealing, as the two scenes - which are not combined in the gospels - formed part of a mystery play performed in the church. The proposal that it was intended to form part of the base of the niche on the church of Orsanmichele, designed to house the figure of St Peter, in a similar arrangement to that of the St George by Donatello, has met with more favour. The wooden frame probably dates from the nineteenth century but is possibly made from reused carved wood sections.

This relief is one of the finest surviving examples of Donatello's work in rilievo schiacciato, literally 'squashed relief', a technique which he developed. It is recorded in the Palazzo Medici in an inventory made after the death of Lorenzo de' Medici il Magnifico in 1492, and in the Palazzo Salviati in Florence in 1591. The circumstances of the commission are not known, but it has been suggested that it may have been carved for niche designed to house a figure of St Peter on the exterior of the church of Orsanmichele in Florence. The niche housing a St George by Donatello has a similar low relief scene below it.

7629-1861