Bust of Francesco di Tommaso Sassetti

myminifactory

Francesco Sassetti dominated the Medici bank in Florence from 1459 to 1490 as its director general. Upon the acquisition of the casting in 1890, initial assessments identified it as a creation by Benedetto da Maiano (1442-1497), only for subsequent attributions to be made to Antonio Rossellino without concrete evidence supporting either claim. This specific portrait style, featuring the subject dressed in classicizing attire inspired by Roman busts, gained widespread acceptance among Florence's artists during the 15th century. Oronzio Lelli, a leading plaster casting manufacturer of his time in Florence, produced the original plaster cast from which the current piece was derived.