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Marzocco

Marzocco is a work by Donatello in pietra serena, dating to 1419–1420 and now preserved in the Museo del Bargello in Florence. It originally stood in Piazza della Signoria, where it has been replaced by a copy to protect the original from weathering. The sculpture depicts the marzocco, a heraldic lion resting one paw on a shield bearing the Florentine lily. Since the Middle Ages, this image has symbolized the city of Florence and its totemic animal. Donatello treated the subject in a groundbreaking way, giving the animal a solemn majesty and a tightly animated expression through chiaroscuro effects and the calm gesture of the paw on the shield.

Marzocco, a seated stone lion with its paw on a shield decorated with a fleur-de-lis.
The Marzocco lion sculpture shown with its paw resting on a fleur-de-lis shield.
August 2014 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Marzocco, a stone lion sculpture holding a shield with a fleur-de-lis emblem
Marzocco, the seated lion sculpture, shown indoors on a pedestal with a shield bearing a fleur-de-lis.
July 2015 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Marzocco stone lion with its paw resting on a shield bearing a fleur-de-lis.
Marzocco, the stone lion shown with a fleur-de-lis shield beneath its paw.
May 2022 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Marzocco lion statue seated on a pedestal with a shield in Florence.
The Marzocco lion statue in Florence, shown in a historic sepia photograph.
© Rijksmuseum · CC0
Marzocco lion sculpture seated upright with a shield on a pedestal.
The Marzocco lion sculpture shown seated with a shield on a tiered pedestal.
November 2013 © · No restrictions

Identification

TitleMarzocco
Typelion statue
Alternative namesMardzokko, Marzokko

Historical context

First statuea late 14th-century statue in Florence, made by an unknown author, which deteriorated and became unusable due to natural causes
Date1419-1420
Work period1418–1420
Commissioned bythe Republic of Florence
Commissioned forthe apartments of Pope Martin V in the monastery of Santa Maria Novella in Florence
Occasion for commissionthe visit to the city of Pope Martin V

Creator

ArtistDonatello
Artist's nationalityItalian

Materials

Techniquecarved sculpture
Materialpietra serena, Tuscan fine-grained gray sandstone

Appearance

Subjecta marzocco, a heraldic lion symbolizing Florence
Posethe lion rests one paw on a shield
Shield depictedthe coat of arms of Florence with the Florentine lily
Expressionmajestic, proud, and lively
Muzzle expressionvividly tense
Light and shadow effectchiaroscuro accentuates the expression

Iconography and meaning

Historical significancelater became an important symbol of the Florentine Republic
Public presencestatues and images of Marzocco were installed throughout the city and became objects of veneration
Use during siege of FlorenceFlorentine troops defending the city during the Siege of Florence in 1529–1530 called themselves the sons of Marzocco
Linguistic associationthe Tuscan word "marziale" means "war-like" and is linked to Mars through the zodiac sign of Leo
Animal symbolismthe lion was Florence's totemic animal
Symbolic meaningsymbol of Florence since the Middle Ages
Etymologypossibly connected with the Evangelist Mark or with the god Mars
Meaning of nameTuscan for "Little Mars"
Symbolic meaningoriginally symbolized a force capable of conquering the wolf and the eagle, symbols of Siena and Pisa

Location and ownership

Original display locationthe Donatello Hall and the 15th-century sculpture section of the National Bargello Museum
Replacementa copy is installed in Piazza della Signoria to protect the original from weathering
Current locationMuseo del Bargello, Florence
Former locationPiazza della Signoria, Florence
Intended locationon a pedestal by the staircase leading to the papal rooms of Santa Maria Novella

History and restoration

Moved to Piazza della Signoria1810-1812
Original placed in museum display1885
Related earlier statuea statue of the god Mars stood at the entrance to the Ponte Vecchio over the Arno River and was destroyed in a flood in 1333
Replacement ideaafter the destruction of the Mars statue, the inhabitants decided to place a "guardian Mars" in the same location

Significance

Significanceone of the most famous works of Donatello and a symbol of Florence

Other

Artistic treatmentDonatello treated the subject in a revolutionary way
Artistic comparisonthe sculpture's majesty is compared to Donatello's works of the same years, such as the Prophet of Thought and the Beardless Prophet for Giotto's Campanile