The Madonna of via Pietrapiana has been purchased by the Ministry of Culture and assigned to the Bargello National Museum, where the rare terracotta will be displayed in the Salone di Donatello (Hall of Donatello), joining masterpieces by the Renaissance artist.
Dating to 1450-1455 and measuring 86 x 64 x 12.5cm, it was until recently the only work known by Donatello that was still in private ownership. Purchased for 1,200,000 euro, the relief was originally placed in a tabernacle on the facade of the building at via Pietrapiana 38, on the corner with via de’ Pepi.
Numerous copies have been made of the terracotta, as was highlighted in the exhibition Donatello, The Renaissance in 2022, where the work was recently on show.
Paola D’Agostino, director of the Bargello Museums, commented, “The Madonna and Child in via Pietrapiana is an acquisition of exceptional importance for the heritage of the Italian State, which was made possible by the collaboration between the various offices of the Ministry of Culture…The Hall of Donatello is a unique place to understand the long and extraordinary activity of Donatello, the greatest artist of the Renaissance…From today, the Madonna and Child of via Pietrapiana will be exhibited in this special place, alongside the master’s other masterpieces and in dialogue with the works of Luca della Robbia, Nanni di Banco and other fifteenth-century artists, awaiting a reorganization of the hall planned for 2024, curated by Ilaria Ciseri”.
Ilaria Ciseri, curator of the Bargello National Museum, elaborates, “An image of exquisite charm, the Madonna of via Pietrapiana shows all the expressive power of Donatello’s sculpture and his constant genius in the invention of details”.
