Bust of Saint Lawrence

Desiderio da Settignano, Donatello (previous attribution), Giuseppe Lelli (cast maker)

No image available

Artist
Desiderio da Settignano
Settignano 1429/1432 – 1464 Firenze

Donatello
(previous attribution)
Firenze 1386/1387 – 1466 Firenze

Giuseppe Lelli
(cast maker)
Firenze
Dated
1459 (original), 1907 (cast)
Medium
plaster cast
Dimensions
55 cm
Inv.no.
Rg.182
Department
Sculptures - Plaster casts
Current Location of the Original Artwork
Italy, Florence, Basilica di San Lorenzo

The bust of Saint Lawrence is housed in the Sagrestia Vecchia of the San Lorenzo Basilica in Florence. The bust depicts probably Saint Leonard and not Saint Lawrence as it was traditionally supposed, for the reason that earlier it was placed in the chapel dedicated to Saint Leonard. For a long time the bust had been attributed to Donatello (1386 or 1387; d 1466) and only in the 1950s became the artwork integrated in the oeuvre of Desiderio da Settignano. It was probably lost during World War II, the current whereabouts of the artwork are unknown.