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As soon as the St Mark had been finished Donatello hastened to complete the St John which, together with the other Evangelists by Nanni di Banco, Niccolo Lamberti and Bernardo Ciuffagni, were to be placed on the facade of Santa Maria del Fiore in the tabernacle at the side of the central door. This statue, which was commissioned by the Opera del Duomo but executed much later - the payments go from 1413 to 1415 - almost seems to anticipate the works of Michelangelo. Particularly remarkable are the saint's acute and penetrating expression, and the realistic treatment of his open hand on the book.
In 1587 the St John, along with the other Evangelists, was removed from the facade and placed inside the Cathedral, whence it was finally moved to its present place in the Museum of the Opera del Duomo.
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