Saint Regulus

Matteo Civitali is considered one of the most important Tuscan marble sculptor working outside of Florence in the 15th century. His training and early years are undocumented, but he was probably trained in Antonio Rossellino's workshop in Florence. Civitali's workshop built up an important free standing, octogonal marble chapel in the nave of the San Martino Cathedral in Lucca between 1482 and 1484. Here, he parallelly designed the altarpiece with sculptural decorations dedicated to Saint Regulus. The Saint Regulus altarpiece show the influence of the sepulchre of Baldassare Coscia by Michelozzo (1396–1472) and Donatello (1386 or 1387; d 1466). The plaster cast of the Saint Regulus was purchased by the Museum in 1907. Probably lost during World War II, the current whereabouts of the artwork are unknown.