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The sacrament tabernacle is the central work of Desiderio's later career. A document refers to its installation in 1461, but a letter written to Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, in February 1462 explains that the sculptor was 'occupied and will be for a long time on a certain work in San Lorenzo', which implies that it was not finished. The tabernacle's original location and configuration are unknown: it has been moved at least three times since its initial installation and its present arrangement is unlikely to be as it was originally. Probably the tabernacle and its architectonic surround were positioned first and the free-standing elements were added later. The attribution to Desiderio of some of the sculptural elements has been questioned. Albertini (1510) said that the Blessing Christ Child that crowns the altar was replaced by a copy by Baccio da Montelupo before 1500.
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