The Old Sacristy of San Lorenzo in Florence
by DONATELLO

From 1428 to about 1443 Donatello was at work on the sculptural decoration of the Old Sacristy of San Lorenzo, built by Brunelleschi between 1418 and 1428. This decoration, carried out with bronzes and polychrome stuccos comprises two arched reliefs above the bronze doors of the altar wall, one showing St Cosmas and St Damian, the other St Stephen and St Lawrence, eight roundels in polychrome stucco with the four Evangelists and four episodes from the life of St John (St John on Patmos, the Resurrection of Drusiana, the Martyrdom and the Ascension of St John), and two bronze doors divided into ten compartments each with the Apostles and Martyrs.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
Old Sacristy
1428-43
Photo
San Lorenzo, Florence

905*1150
True Color
161 Kb



Old Sacristy
1418-28
Photo
San Lorenzo, Florence

1075*1500
True Color
216 Kb



Old Sacristy
1418-28
Photo
San Lorenzo, Florence

1116*1400
True Color
239 Kb



Door of the Martyrs
1440-43
Bronze, 235 x 109 cm
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

800*1548
True Color
253 Kb



Door of the Martyrs (detail)
1440-43
Bronze
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

1000*1058
True Color
251 Kb



Door of the Martyrs (detail)
1440-43
Bronze, 31 x 29 cm
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

1000*1074
True Color
231 Kb



Door of the Martyrs (detail)
1440-43
Bronze
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

923*1000
True Color
210 Kb



Door of the Apostles
1440-43
Bronze, 235 x 109 cm
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

800*1544
True Color
236 Kb



Door of the Apostles (detail)
1440-43
Bronze, 36 x 34 cm
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

1000*1032
True Color
231 Kb



Door of the Apostles (detail)
1440-43
Bronze, 30 x 29 cm
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

960*1000
True Color
266 Kb



St Stephen and St Lawrence
1428-35
Polychrome terracotta, 215 x 180 cm
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

1100*1254
True Color
220 Kb



St Cosmas and St Damian
1428-35
Polychrome terracotta, 215 x 180 cm
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

1100*1254
True Color
211 Kb



Evangelist Matthew
1428-43
Polychrome stucco, diameter 215 cm
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

1016*1000
True Color
189 Kb



Evangelist Mark
1428-43
Polychrome stucco, diameter 215 cm
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

1015*1000
True Color
192 Kb



Evangelist Luke
1428-43
Polychrome stucco, diameter 215 cm
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

1046*1000
True Color
193 Kb



Evangelist John
1428-43
Polychrome stucco, diameter 215 cm
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

1057*1000
True Color
229 Kb



St John on Patmos
1428-43
Polychrome stucco, diameter 215 cm
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

1042*1000
True Color
202 Kb



Martyrdom of St John
1428-43
Polychrome stucco, diameter 215 cm
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

1040*1000
True Color
204 Kb



Ascension of St John
1428-43
Polychrome stucco, diameter 215 cm
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

1039*1000
True Color
191 Kb



Raising of Drusiana
1428-43
Polychrome stucco, diameter 215 cm
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

1038*1000
True Color
180 Kb



Putti of the trabeation
1428-43
Polychrome stucco
Old Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence

1719*600
True Color
181 Kb




Summary of sculptures by Donatello
Early works
John XXIII | David | Duomo | Orsanmichele | Siena | Various
Mature works
Cantoria | Basilica di Santo | Prato Pulpit | San Lorenzo | Various
Late works
Judith and Holofernes | Pulpits of San Lorenzo | Various