Giovanni Chellini

myminifactory

This portrait bust is a likeness of Giovanni Chellini, who passed away in 1462 at the age of 83 or 84. An inscription within the hollow base of the bust identifies both the subject and artist: MAGisteR IOHANES MAGistRI . ANTONII DE SancTO MINIATE DOCTOR ARTIVM ET MEDICINE . MCCCCLVI. In the center are the words: OPUS ANTONII. Giovanni Chellini da San Miniato (d. 1462) was well known in Florence as a doctor and teacher of medicine. The present bust was likely based on a mask cast from the doctor's face just a few years before his death. The bust was probably commissioned by Chellini himself, and remained in his family until it was sold in Florence in the second half of the nineteenth century. Chellini treated the sculptor Donatello for an illness, and as payment, Donatello gave him a bronze roundel of the Virgin and Child in 1456, which is now also part of the V&A collection and displayed nearby to the bust. This sculpture is one of the earliest and finest Renaissance portrait busts and is the first known work by Rossellino. It embodies both his mastery of carving and the growing preference for life-like portrait busts that developed in Florence around this time. Made six years before the subject died, the exceptional handling and distinctive features of the bust demonstrate that it was based on a life-mask. A plaster mould was taken of the sitter's face, which would accurately record his or her features. During the process, a band was placed around the sitter's head to protect the hair, and in doing so, the ears were pinned back. However, this feature would not have been directly translated into an image cast from the mould, and in any case need not have been translated into the carved marble. To ensure his own fame and that of the subject, Rossellino signed it underneath. Gallery location: Medieval & Renaissance, Room 64a, The Robert H. Smith Gallery This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from around the globe for the public to access for free. Scan the World is an open source, community effort, if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help.