Adriatic area

The context of this sculpture, initially attributed to Agostino di Duccio, could be considered that of Federico Zeri’s ‘Pseudo-Renaissance’, which arose from a rediscovery of ‘peripheral’ artistic areas, especially the Adriatic. The early roots of this Adriatic style can be found in Padua, especially in Donatello’s altar, on the execution of which one of the leading figures in this cultural milieu also worked, namely Niccolò di Giovanni, known as Fiorentino, who trained in the workshop of the great master.
To clarify the figurative culture of our sculptor, we should observe the particular characteristics of the hairstyle, a detail in which references to antiquity are evident. Marble artefacts from the Roman imperial period, widespread in Italy in the 15th century, were collected with passion by collectors and artists who, revelling in the revival of the ancient world, drew inspiration from them that often enriched their works.

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