Nanni di Bartolo, Donatello and Bernardo Ciuffagni, Saint John the Baptist
- Authors
- Nanni di Bartolo, detto "il Rosso" - Donatello - Ciuffagni, Bernardo
- Date
- 1415-1421
- Collocation
- Galleria del Campanile
- Material
- White Carrara marble
- Technique
- Sculpture
- Dimensions
- Height: 208 cm; Width: 65 cm; Depth: 46,5 cm;
- Material
- White Carrara marble
- Scheda Arnolfo
- Profeta Giosuè (poi San Giovanni Battista) (lato ovest)
This sculpture in white Carrara marble, worked in the round in larger-than-life dimensions, was originally placed in the first niche from the left on the west side of Giotto's Bell Tower. The figure was created in two phases: in 1415, Bernardo Ciuffagni and then Donatello and Nanni “il Rosso” di Bartolo had developed it as a prophet Joshua. Subsequently, Donatello and Nanni changed the personage to St John the Baptist: we see him as a handsome and beardless young man, with wavy hair and confident eyes, standing firm on legs planted wide, dressed in a tunic and cloak, but barefoot. His head is turned to the left, his hands extending a scroll along his right thigh, where we read “ECCE AGNUS DEI”: to the crowds below, he Forerunner of Christ announces the coming of the Lamb of God.