Cantoria (singers' gallery) of the Florence Cathedral
by Luca della Robbia

The authorities ordered an organ loft, called a "cantoria" from Luca della Robbia in 1431. He worked eight years on the project and translated into three-dimensional images the 150th Psalm of David (Laudate Dominum) whose verses are transcribed in Roman lettering on the three fascias of the pulpit. He set ten bas-reliefs in two superimposed rows, depicting young men, young girls and putti. Sometimes standing out from and sometimes closely adhering to the background, the figures are singing in harmony, playing instruments, and dancing.

This is the first documented work by Luca. Originally above the door to the North Sacristy, opposite to the cantoria by Donatello above the South Sacristy, it was dismantled (together with Donatello's) in 1688 and replaced by Baroque pulpit realised for the wedding of Ferdinando de' Medici to Violante Beatrice of Bavaria.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 5 minutes):
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Laudate Dominum (from Vesperae solennes de confessore K 339)

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
Cantoria
1431-38
Marble, 328 x 560 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

1729*1000
True Color
312 Kb



Cantoria
1431-38
Marble, 328 x 560 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

1592*850
True Color
191 Kb



Cantoria
1431-38
Marble, 328 x 560 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

968*697
True Color
106 Kb



Cantoria
1431-38
Marble, 328 x 560 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

900*666
True Color
184 Kb



Cantoria: first top relief
1431-38
Marble, 100 x 94 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

752*846
True Color
163 Kb



Cantoria: first top relief (detail)
1431-38
Marble
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

1400*902
True Color
152 Kb



Cantoria: second top relief
1431-38
Marble, 100 x 94 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

1113*1200
True Color
196 Kb



Cantoria: second top relief
1431-38
Marble, 100 x 94 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

836*900
True Color
98 Kb



Cantoria: second top relief (detail)
1431-38
Marble
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

654*892
True Color
126 Kb



Cantoria: third top relief
1431-38
Marble, 100 x 94 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

746*900
True Color
86 Kb



Cantoria: fourth top relief
1431-38
Marble, 100 x 94 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

1018*1081
True Color
152 Kb



Cantoria: fourth top relief
1431-38
Marble, 100 x 94 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

900*923
True Color
159 Kb



Cantoria: fourth top relief (detail)
1431-38
Marble
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

1102*1000
True Color
134 Kb



Cantoria: first bottom relief
1431-38
Marble, 99 x 92 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

1035*1088
True Color
138 Kb



Cantoria: first bottom relief
1431-38
Marble, 99 x 92 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

792*821
True Color
89 Kb



Cantoria: first bottom relief (detail)
1431-38
Marble
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

2177*994
True Color
196 Kb



Cantoria: first bottom relief (detail)
1431-38
Marble
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

1400*975
True Color
157 Kb



Cantoria: second bottom relief
1431-38
Marble, 99 x 92 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

755*900
True Color
85 Kb



Cantoria: second bottom relief (detail)
1431-38
Marble
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

1400*1002
True Color
165 Kb



Cantoria: second bottom relief (detail)
1431-38
Marble
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

626*890
True Color
122 Kb



Cantoria: third bottom relief
1431-38
Marble, 99 x 92 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

836*900
True Color
78 Kb



Cantoria: third bottom relief (detail)
1431-38
Marble,
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

700*860
True Color
72 Kb



Cantoria: fourth bottom relief
1431-38
Marble, 99 x 92 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

900*888
True Color
114 Kb



Cantoria: fourth bottom relief (detail)
1431-38
Marble
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

1300*912
True Color
138 Kb



Cantoria: left side relief
1431-38
Marble, 96 x 61 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

896*1400
True Color
157 Kb



Cantoria: left side relief (detail)
1431-38
Marble
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

1004*843
True Color
104 Kb



Cantoria: right side relief
1431-38
Marble, 96 x 61 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

908*1400
True Color
158 Kb




Works by Luca della Robbia
Cantoria | other works for Florence Cathedral
Pazzi Chapel | Madonna images | various