Florentine sculptor, 1386 - 1466

	"In the Old Market, standing on a column of granite, is a statue of Abundance carved by Donatello in grey-stone...The column was formerly in the Baptistery; it was replaced by a fluted column from the middle of the church which once supported the statue of Mars.." I-176 Late 16th century view of the Mercato Vecchio, showing Donatello's Dovizia Dovizia (Abundance) Now lost
	"Donatello made a marble statue for the facade of Santa Maria del Fiore of St John the Evangelist, seated, eight feet high and clothed in a simple garment, which is very highly praised." I-177 St John the Evangelist, Duomo, Florence
	"In the same place one can see the statue of an old man standing between two columns. This shows more similarities to the ancient style than any other work left by Donatello; the man's head expresses the thought of one bowed down over the years by time and toil." I-177 A bearded prophet
	"Donatello also made inside Santa Maria del Fiore the ornament for the organ which is over the door of the old sacristy, with figures so strongly carved, as has been said, that they look as if they are really alive and moving. And this work demonstrates that he worked with his mind as much as his hands...." I-177 Cantoria, Duomo, Florence
	"Many works of art seem beautiful when they are being made, but, after they are moved from the workshop and put in place, they present another aspect and seem altogether different. Donatello made his statues so well that in the room where he was working they never appeared half as good as they turned out to be when they were put in position." I-177 Cantoria (detail)
	Cantoria (detail)
	"For the Cloth Guild he carved the statue of St Mark the Evangelist...the consuls of the guild were reluctant to have it set up. Whereupon Donatello urged them to let him set it up on high, saying he would work on it and show them an altogether different statue. When they agreed, he merely covered it up for a fortnight and then, having done nothing to it, he uncovered it and amazed them all." I-178 St Mark, Orsanmichele
	"For the Armourers Guild he made a very spirited figure of St George in armour, expressing in the head of this saint the beauty of youth, courage and valour in arms, and a terrible ardour. Life seems to be stirring vigorously within the stone. And to be sure no modern statues have the vivacity and spirit produced by nature and art, through the hand of Donatello, in this marble." I-178 St George, Orsanmichele, Florence
	"On the base of the shrine he carved a low relief in marble of St George killing the dragon, with a horse that is very highly praised and regarded; and in the frontal he made a half-length figure of God-the-Father, again in low relief." I-178 St George and the dragon
	God the Father