Singing and musician angels

Between 1443 and 1453 Donatello lived and worked in Padua. It was at this time that he completed his famous equestrian statue, the Gattamelata, and his high altar for the Basilica di Sant’Antonio. The latter was the first Renaissance altar comprising bronze statues and reliefs – which were considerably more expensive than other materials. The twenty-nine pieces of sculpture were made between 1447 and 1450 and commemorate Saint Anthony of Padua. In 1907, the museum ordered plaster casts of the four reliefs depicting Saint Anthony’s miracles (these four casts are now held by the University of Debrecen) and of twelve reliefs depicting singing or musician angels. Casts of the latter reliefs are exhibited here. On the original altar, Donatello also sculpted the crucified Christ, six life-sized statues of saints, and the Entombment.