San Zeno che ride, Marble statue in Basilica of San Zeno, Verona, Italy.
San Zeno che ride is a marble statue in the Basilica of San Zeno in Verona that depicts the saint seated on a chair with lion-decorated armrests. The sculpture combines red Verona marble with Greek marble components and dates to the 13th century, with its unfinished back suggesting it was originally mounted in an elevated position.
The statue was created in the 13th century and depicts Saint Zeno, who served as the eighth Bishop of Verona from 362 to 380. Though this bishop lived in late antiquity, his sculptural portrait was not realized as a marble work until more than 900 years after his lifetime.
The statue shows Saint Zeno with a gentle facial expression and his right hand raised in blessing, which sets it apart from traditional Christian religious art. This expressive portrayal makes the figure feel more approachable and less formal than similar works from the same period.
The statue is located in the left minor apse of the basilica and is easy to find once inside. Take time to examine the seated posture and the details of the armrests to fully appreciate this medieval work.
The sculpture combines two different marble types, with the red local stone forming the main structure while Greek marble was used for specific details. This unusual material combination was rare for the period and shows the effort invested in creating this work.
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