Martelli family

Italian

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A clean-shaven, young man, David, stands with his feet to either side of a severed head in this free-standing marble sculpture. In this view, David’s body angles to our left but he turns his oval face to us as he looks into the distance with wide eyes. He has a straight nose, closed lips, and a round chin. Short hair curls on his forehead and to the nape of his neck. The strap of a satchel is slung over one shoulder and across his torso over a thigh-length toga. He stands with his weight on his right foot, to our left, and the other knee bent so the foot rests at an angle along the jawline of the severed head. David holds the strap of a long slingshot down by his right side, to our left, so the pocket end of the slingshot rests on the ground at that foot. The other hand is braced, palm out, on the slightly bent thigh. The severed head is larger in scale than David’s head, and it lies on one ear. The head has a beard, curly hair, and the eyes are closed. A column of marble behind the pair help support the stone’s weight. The surface of the marble has deepened to parchment white in some areas and is a darker tan on David’s face. The sculpture has an oval base carved from the same stone, and it rests on a pedestal against a pale pink stone wall.
Bernardo Rossellino, Antonio Rossellino, The David of the Casa Martelli, c. 1461/1479, marble, Widener Collection, 1942.9.115

The David of the Casa Martelli

Bernardo Rossellino, Antonio Rossellino · c. 1461/1479 · marble ·  Accession ID  1942.9.115

The head and shoulders of a young boy have been carved from white marble in this freestanding sculpture. In this photograph, the boy’s shoulders are square to us, and he turns his head to look off to our left. His wavy hair comes low on his forehead and curls along the back of his neck. He has slightly raised brows, and the irises of his eyes are lightly carved so the boy appears to look up under heavy lids. He has an oval face with smooth cheeks, a delicate nose, and his lips are closed. He wears a garment that appears to be fur under a more voluminous robe, which drapes over one shoulder and wraps around the chest. The sculpture ends in a straight, blunt line below the shoulders, and it sits on a stepped, white marble base. The background is pale gray.
Anonymous Artist, The Young Saint John the Baptist, c. 1460, marble, Widener Collection, 1942.9.142

The Young Saint John the Baptist

Anonymous Artist · c. 1460 · marble ·  Accession ID  1942.9.142