Donatello: Judith & Holofernes Bronze Sculpture

Palazzo Vecchio

Donatello’s Judith and Holofernes in Palazzo Vecchio
Brancacci Chapel, Church of Santa Maria del Carmine
Oratory of St. Sebastian, Church of the Santissima Annunziata

Florence, Italy…Three major projects restored thanks to support from Friends of Florence Foundation are now on public view: Donatello’s monumental bronze sculpture Judith and Holofernes (1457-1464) in the Palazzo Vecchio; the sublime series of frescoes and ornamentation featured in the Brancacci Chapel in the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine; and the intricately decorated Oratory of St. Sebastian in the Church of the Santissima Annunziata.

The three projects yielded numerous insights into and discoveries about the works themselves, the techniques of the artists who created them, previous interventions, and the histories of the sites. Importantly, each restoration was conducted using state-of-the-art processes under the meticulous supervision of Florence’s famed conservators.
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Friends of Florence President Simonetta Brandolini d’Adda said, “Each of these projects represent important chapters in Florentine history. Donatello’s masterwork depicts the Biblical heroine Judith vanquishing an Assyrian general. The complex effort within the Brancacci Chapel required a scaffolding system to address the double-tiered wall frescos and allowed visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the paintings in close proximity. The multi-dimensional Oratory in the church of the Santissima Annunziata has been returned to its former glory after sustaining extensive damage during the flood of 1966. We are profoundly grateful to our donors who gave so generously to restore and safeguard these works.”

Full Press Release

With the Generous Support of:

Loralee West
Phil and Lauren Hughes
Catharin Dalpino
Ann & Paul Friedman
Arthur & Judith Rubin

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