Bust Of St Lawrence

A bust of Saint Lawrence from Borgo San Lorenzo, a region just north of Florence, was recently attributed to the famous Florence sculptor, Donatello. It was sculpted during the Renaissance, circa 1440, and it demonstrated characteristics similar to that found in the Classics. The bust appears realistic and almost paradoxically idealistic, is viewable from multiple angles and is composed of terra-cotta. Its theme is religious, and both Classic and Renaissance sculptures commonly referred to stories involving the divine. Hence, the bust of Saint Lawrence serves as an illustration that the Renaissance was the revival of the artistic techniques of the Classics.
During the Renaissance, there was once more an interest in art being portrayed realistically,
The bust inherently emphasizes Christianity as it depicts a saint, a vital figure in the Christianity of Western Europe during the Renaissance. Saint Lawrence was granted sainthood due to his role in the early Church and consequent martyrdom. He was responsible for redistributing funds to the poor during the era in the Roman Empire when Christians were persecuted. Saint Lawrence was ordered by an official to relinquish the funds reserved for the poor, yet he refused and was condemned to an execution by use of a gridiron. During this, he had God’s protection from the pain of the flames, and instead of crying out, made a jest. While the bust does not display any concrete objects that the allude to the saint’s horrific fate; instead, it does demonstrate a calm, collected demeanor that he was said to have possessed during the execution. He does hold two objects, a quill and book, that hint at a more benign nature of sainthood as patron saint of librarians. This indication, further involves Christianity within the bust’s design. Additionally, Christianity could be viewed as the factor behind the bust’s creation because the sculpture was commissioned for the tympanum of a church to honor the saint. This mirrors the use of statues by the Greeks to appease particular gods, which were often housed in the place of worship.
The bust of Saint Lawrence is a remarkable work. It is realistic and beautiful in a manner that makes it almost appear alive from all angles. The bust’s inspiration is derived from the deeply held religious views of the fifteenth century, however, this alone did not make it such an exceptional work. Rather, greatness is had in the combination of these elements, which was first seen in sculptures of the Classical Greeks. Due to this, the bust of Saint Lawrence emphasizes the Renaissance was a continuation of these artistic