'Sculpture in the Age of Donatello' at MoBiA

We took in the exhibition 'Sculpture in the Age of Donatello' at the Museum of Biblical Art in March.  All 23 of the objects in the exhibition are from the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo in Florence.  The objects are only available during the renovation and re-imagining of the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo -- the museum associated with the Cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore) of Florence (known as 'Il Duomo').  

There is an introductory video which seems to be about the reconfiguration of Museo dell'Opera del Duomo and the art treasures of the three buildings that comprise the Cathedral complex -- the Cathedral, the Campanile, and the Baptistry.  Many of these works had to be removed from the exteriors of the Duomo complex because they were suffering from environmental damage primarily caused by air pollution. 

The main gallery of MoBiA for the exhibiton 'Sculpture in the Age of Donatello'.  Photo by Blomme-McClure 

The exhibition has been beautifully mounted in MoBiA's main gallery which is divided by gauzy white fabric into niches and rooms.  The free-standing sculptures are mounted on high pedestals which approximate the way that they would have been seen in their original locations around the Cathedral complex.  While we were in the gallery a few visitors were actually lying on the floor to further approximate the views the Florentine public would have had when the sculptures were newly finished and installed. 

The exhibition features several masterpieces by the sculptor Donatello (Donato di Niccolo di betto Bardi, 1386- 1466) who worked in several Italian towns during the first half of the 15th century.  He spent several years in Florence creating works to embellish the Cathedral complex.  In addition to works by Donatello the exhibition contains several works from the end of the 14th century through the middle of the 15th century by other artists who often worked side-by-side with Donatello on the Duomo.

The most stunning work in the exhibition is Donatello's 'Saint John the Evangelist' (circa 1409-1411) -- a seated figure of the bearded evangelist holding a book (the gospel of John).  It originally stood beside the Cathedral's main western door -- no doubt passing judgment on Florentines as they entered the church.

'Saint John the Evangelist' by Donatello, marble, circa 1409-1411.  Photo by Blomme-McClure

Stern and austere, the bearded figure flanked the central western door of the Cathedral with Nanni di Banco's 'Saint Luke' of 1408.  

'Saint Luke' by Nanni di Banco, marble, 1408 and 'Saint John the Evangelist' by Donatello, marble,
circa 1409-1411.  Photo by Blomme-McClure

While the two figures are of the same scale, the 'Saint Luke' seems much less imposing due to the smug, self-satisfied facial expression and the complex drapery of his robe -- it's beautiful, but distracting.

'Saint Luke' by Nanni di Banco, marble, 1408.  Photo by Blomme-McClure

In the first niche inside the entrance there is a lovely, late 14th-century 'Annunciation' by Giovanni d'Ambrogio from about 1397.

'Annunciation' by Giovanni d'Ambrogio, marble, circa 1397.  Photo by Blomme-McClure

The sensuous robes of both the Madonna and the Angel Gabriel have remarkable detail and naturalness -- the fabric appears gossamer thin and beautifully draped.

'Annunciation' -- detail of the Angel Gabriel -- by Giovanni d'Ambrogio, marble, circa 1397.
Photo by Blomme-McClure

Donatello created several old testament figures to fill niches in the campanile.  Two are on display in this exhibition -- 'The Prophet Habbakuk' (also known as 'Lo Zuccone') and 'The Sacrifice of Isaac'.

'The Prophet Habbakuk' (aka 'Lo Zuccone') by Donatello, marble, circa 1423-1435.
Photo by Blomme-McClure

'Habbakuk' is an austere standing figure, approximately lifesize, bald and barefoot.  The strong lines of the drapery of his robe make the sculpture appear even taller and more commanding and gives it the elongated feeling of an El Greco saint.

'The Sacrifice of Isaac' by Donatello, marble, circa 1421.  Photo by Blomme-McClure

There's an almost Art Deco quality about 'The Sacrifice of Isaac' that Donatello sculpted around 1421 for the Campanile.  The blocky figure of Isaac passively waits for his father, Abraham, to strike the sacrificial blow, while the animated figure of Abraham writhes and recoils from the deed that God has commanded him to commit.  It is a gorgeously expressive work -- much more animated than most of Donatello's work.

The show also includes three hexagonal relief medallions from a set that Luca della Robbia created for the Campanile.

' Grammar' by Luca della Robbia, marble, 14th century.  Photo by Blomme-McClure

'Disputation' (aka 'Plato & Aristotle') by Luca della Robbia, marble, 14th century.  Photo by Blomme-McClure

'Music' (aka 'Orpheus') by Luca della Robbia, marble, 14th century.  Photo by Blomme-McClure

The whimsical scene of the lutist playing 'Music' to soothe the beasts of the forest is especially delightful.  And the animated 'Disputation' is almost like a cartoon panel from a comic book.

The della Robbia studio also created the crosier in gold and enamel to be carried by the bishop in processions and ceremonies in the Cathedral.

'Cr0sier' (detail) by Studio of Luca della Robbia, gold & enamel, 14th century.  Photo by Blomme-McClure 

Three gilded bronze panels show scenes from the life of Christ that were part of Lorenzo Ghiberti's original east doors to the Baptistry (opposite the Cathedral's main doors).  They are displayed with stone reliefs derived from the same compositions from the early 15th century.  These doors, commissioned in 1401, were later moved to the north side of the Baptistry when Ghiberti was given a second commission for the current east doors (which Michelangelo named the 'Gates of Paradise') in 1425.  After withstanding centuries of air pollution and corrosion, all of the original bronze panels from Ghiberti's two commissions have been moved inside the museum and restored.  Today the panels in the Baptistry doors are copies of the originals.

Three panels by Lorenzo Ghiberti, bronze, circa 1401 to 1424 displayed with stone reliefs derived from the same compositions.  Photo by Blomme-McClure

Ghiberti's individual bronze panels of the life of Christ from the 1401 commission display the rudimentary animation and use of perspective that came to full flower in his panels of the twelve Old Testament scenes for the 1425 commission.

'Adoration of the Magi' by Lorenzo Ghiberti, gilded bronze, circa 1401 to 1420.  Photo by Blomme-McClure

'Flagellation of Christ' by Lorenzo Ghiberti, gilded bronze, circa 1401-1420.  Photo by Blomme-McClure

'Crucifixion' by Lorenzo Ghiberti, gilded bronze, circa 1401-1420.  Photo by Blomme-McClure

For the 'Adoration of the Magi' Ghiberti uses two-point perspective in the temple surrounding the Holy Family.  In the 'Flagellation of Christ' there is a sense of movement in the torquing bodies of the Roman Centurions wielding their whips on the cringing Christ.  It also uses single-point perspective in the temple behind the figures.  In the 'Crucifixion' an overall symmetry focuses the viewer's attention on the figure on the cross.  Both Donatello and Brunelleschi were apprentices in Ghiberti's studio during the time that the panels for the 1401 commission were being created.

Donatello created two bronze heads to adorn his cantoria (singing gallery) inside the Cathedral.  They appear to be identical.  Luca della Robbia also created a cantoria for the Cathedral -- both are now in the museum.

'Bronze Heads' by Donatello, bronze, circa early 14th century.  Photo by Blomme-McClure

The wooden models for the Cathedral's dome (Il Duomo) created by Filippo Brunelleschi are miniatures of the gigantic dome he built over the Cathedral's crossing.  Brunelleschi won the commission for the dome in competition with Ghiberti.  After losing the 1425 competition for the Baptistry doors to Ghiberti, Brunelleschi had gone to Rome with his friend Donatello to study the architecture of the ancient city.  Inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, Brunelleschi devised an even larger dome for Florence.  It is an engineering marvel as well as an architectural triumph.

Models for the Cathedral dome by Filippo Brunelleschi, wood, circa 1418-1446.  Photo by Blomme-McClure

The exhibit, 'Sculpture in the Age of Donatello' will remain at the Museum of Biblical Art (on the northwest corner of Broadway & 61st Street) through June 14th.  I urge anyone interested in three-dimensional art to see it while it's here.  MoBiA is the only stop for this exhibition.  When the show closes all of the pieces in the exhibition will return to Florence to await installation in the renovated Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.  

See my blog post on our June, 2001 visit to the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo for more on the objects in this splendid museum:

http://zylopho.blogspot.com/2014/07/italian-trip-diary-day-7-florence-to.html

See my blog post on our 2001 visit to the Bargello Gallery in Florence to view additional works by Donatello:

http://zylopho.blogspot.com/2014/07/italian-trip-diary-day-6-florence.html