Works in the Basilica di Sant'Antonio in Padua
by DONATELLO

St Anthony originally came from Lisbon. He was canonised just one year after his death in Arcella near to Padua, and the work of building his mortuary chapel of Sant'Antonio was begun. The tomb meant that the church became a very popular place of pilgrimage.

Donatello's high altar in the basilica is dedicated to the memory of the saint. The group called the Altare del Santo, which Donatello executed about 1447-50, composed altogether of twenty-nine pieces of sculpture. Seven free-standing bronze statues (Madonna Enthroned with Child, St Francis, St Anthony, St Daniel, St Justina, St Louis, St Prosdocimo), four bas-reliefs in bronze with the miracles of St Anthony (Miracle of the Ass, Miracle of the New-born Child, Miracle of the Repentant Son, Miracle of the Avaricious Man's Heart); four bas-reliefs in bronze with the symbols of the Evangelists, another bas-relief of the Dead Christ supported by two putti, twelve reliefs with Musician Angels, and finally a relief in Nanto stone depicting the Entombment.

Unfortunately today we can have no idea of the true architectural arrangement of all this material. In fact at the end of the 16th century Donatello's altar was taken to pieces to make way for another by Gerolamo Campagna and Cesare Franco, which included Donatello's Crucifix. Finally in 1895 the present altar was designed as a reconstruction of Donatello's altar, though it is an arbitrary one only, and the introduction of the bronze Crucifix is a falsification in 19th-century taste. Modern critics have repeatedly sought to arrive at a reconstruction which most closely resembles Donatello's ideal.

While he was working on the Altare del Santo, Donatello also executed the equestrian statue of Gattamelata. This was set up in front of the church in a space then used as a cemetery.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
Crucifix
1449
Bronze, 180 x 166 cm
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1100*1100
True Color
49 Kb



Crucifix (detail)
1449
Bronze
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1039*720
True Color
79 Kb



The High Altar of St Anthony (front view)
1447-50
Bronze
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1249*900
Grayscale
187 Kb



The High Altar of St Anthony (front view)
1447-50
Bronze
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1000*1000
True Color
204 Kb



The High Altar of St Anthony (front view)
1447-50
Bronze
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1500*1005
True Color
247 Kb



The High Altar of St Anthony
1447-50
Bronze
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

574*830
True Color
123 Kb



The High Altar of St Anthony (rear view)
1447-50
Bronze
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1359*1000
True Color
238 Kb



Madonna and Child between St Francis and St Anthony
c. 1448
Bronze, height 147, 160 and 145 cm
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1120*1300
True Color
202 Kb



Madonna and Child between St Francis and St Anthony (detail)
c. 1448
Bronze
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1168*720
True Color
95 Kb



Madonna with the Child
c. 1448
Bronze, height 160 cm
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1000*2016
True Color
218 Kb



St Louis of Toulouse
1447-50
Bronze, height 164 cm
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

997*1700
True Color
170 Kb



St Prosdocimus
1447-50
Bronze, height 163 cm
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

995*1700
True Color
171 Kb



St Justina
1447-50
Bronze, height 154 cm
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

914*1700
True Color
167 Kb



St Daniel
1447-50
Bronze, height 153 cm
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

912*1700
True Color
162 Kb



Miracle of the Ass
1447-50
Bronze, 57 x 123 cm
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1520*700
True Color
243 Kb



Miracle of the Ass (detail)
1447-50
Bronze
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1444*900
True Color
229 Kb



Miracle of the New-born Child
1447-50
Bronze, 57 x 123 cm
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1519*700
True Color
248 Kb



Miracle of the New-born Child (detail)
1447-50
Bronze
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1000*1303
True Color
230 Kb



Miracle of the Repentant Son
1447-50
Bronze, 57 x 123 cm
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1522*700
True Color
241 Kb



Miracle of the Repentant Son (detail)
1447-50
Bronze
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1490*636
True Color
198 Kb



Miracle of the Avaricious Man's Heart
1447-50
Bronze, 57 x 123 cm
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1528*700
True Color
227 Kb



Miracle of the Avaricious Man's Heart (detail)
1447-50
Bronze
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

787*990
True Color
180 Kb



Symbol of the Evangelist John
1447-50
Bronze, 60 x 60 cm
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1110*1100
True Color
231 Kb



Symbol of the Evangelist Matthew
1447-50
Bronze, 60 x 60 cm
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1114*1100
True Color
214 Kb



The Dead Christ
1447-50
Bronze, 58 x 56 cm
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1100*1145
True Color
208 Kb



Entombment
1447-50
Nanto stone, 139 x 188 cm
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1150*828
True Color
254 Kb



Reliefs of Musician Angels
1447-50
Bronze, 58 x 21 cm (each)
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

1000*1100
True Color
233 Kb



Reliefs of Musician Angels
1447-50
Bronze, 58 x 21 cm (each)
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

520*668
Grayscale
89 Kb



Relief of Musician Angels (detail)
1447-50
Bronze, 58 x 21 cm
Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua

900*1438
True Color
227 Kb



Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata
1447-50
Bronze, 340 x 390 cm (without base)
Piazza del Santo, Padua

1600*1067
True Color
269 Kb



Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata
1447-50
Bronze, 340 x 390 cm (without base)
Piazza del Santo, Padua

1103*803
True Color
124 Kb



Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata
1447-50
Bronze, 340 x 390 cm (without base)
Piazza del Santo, Padua

1114*1500
True Color
247 Kb



Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata
1447-50
Bronze, 340 x 390 cm (without base)
Piazza del Santo, Padua

1084*1300
True Color
146 Kb



Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata
1447-50
Bronze, 340 x 390 cm (without base)
Piazza del Santo, Padua

827*909
True Color
133 Kb



Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata (detail)
1447-50
Bronze
Piazza del Santo, Padua

1024*733
True Color
131 Kb



Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata (detail)
1447-50
Bronze
Piazza del Santo, Padua

900*1055
True Color
131 Kb




Summary of sculptures by Donatello
Early works
John XXIII | David | Duomo | Orsanmichele | Siena | Various
Mature works
Cantoria | Basilica di Santo | Prato Pulpit | San Lorenzo | Various
Late works
Judith and Holofernes | Pulpits of San Lorenzo | Various