Ten examples illustrating Psalm 150 and young singers of the Cantoria

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In the early 1400s, a team of skilled artisans in Florence embarked on an ambitious project to adorn the interior of their iconic cathedral, the Duomo, as well as its two ornate sacristy doors. The vision for this grand undertaking was first brought forth in 1430 when Luca della Robbia received the commission for the work. Meanwhile, Donatello remained in Rome at that time, but he returned to Florence in 1433 and secured a second contract for the decoration of another section of the Duomo, with one crucial stipulation: his creation had to be completed within the same budget as della Robbia's project. As a result of this constraint, both artists ended up producing similar-sized masterpieces that shared an uncanny resemblance. While they employed putti - adorable, nude, and energetic children - to decorate their respective galleries, their artistic approaches couldn't have been more distinct. Della Robbia focused on capturing the genuine essence of his chubby cherubs, whereas Donatello drew inspiration from ancient styles and motifs. Donatello's winged youth wear simple tunics, reflecting a timeless elegance that is unmistakably classical in nature.