Equestrian statue of Gattamelata, Bronze equestrian statue at Piazza del Santo, Padua, Italy
The Equestrian statue of Gattamelata is a bronze memorial on the square in front of the Basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua, Italy. The man sits upright in the saddle wearing armor while the horse steps forward with one front leg raised.
Donatello created the work between 1447 and 1453 for the family of the deceased commander Erasmo da Narni. The execution brought ancient Roman forms back into public life and later inspired many European sculptors.
The nickname Gattamelata, "honeyed cat", belonged to Erasmo da Narni, a condottiero from the Veneto who commanded troops for the Republic of Venice, which ruled Padua from 1405. The pedestal carries two reliefs: one shows his coat of arms held by two winged putti, the other putti displaying his battle armor. Below them, carved fake doors suggest the gates of the underworld, though the monument was never a tomb — Gattamelata was buried inside the Basilica of Saint Anthony in 1458.
The memorial stands on a raised base so visitors view the details best from below at different angles. The basilica next to the work offers shade and seating for longer stays on the square.
Beneath the horse's left front hoof lies an orb representing worldly power. The base carries reliefs on its sides showing putti and the coat of arms of the Narni family.
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