Desiderio da Settignano

Desiderio da Settignano (* 1430 in Settignano, Tuscany; ? † 16 () in January 1464 in Florence ) was an Italian sculptor.

Desiderio was born into a family of sculptors. About his youth and education nothing more is known; the influence of Donatello, however, is not questioned. 1453 he joined the guild of stone and wood sculptor from Florence. He developed into one of the masters of the Italian Renaissance; the rilievo stiacciato ( bas-relief ) became his trademark. His technical skills in the treatment of marble - and other materials - were unmatched; his originality and his fine sense of nature are most clearly seen in his soulful portrait busts.

A masterpiece of naturalistic Porträtbildnerei of the 15th century is the ( mentioned by Vasari boasting ) marble bust of Marietta Strozzi. His main work is considered the tomb of the humanists and Secretary Carlo Marsuppini in Santa Croce at Florence, which protrudes through both the beautiful ornaments as well as by the characteristic of resting on the sarcophagus of the deceased. A marble tabernacle in San Lorenzo in Florence is just as significant in the moderate ornamentation and fine execution of the figures and is considered one of the masterpieces of the 15th century.