Virgin and Child

c. 1400

Friendship with Brunelleschi in Pistoia

In Pistoia the thirteen- or fourteen-year-old Donatello helped Filippo Brunelleschi with the silver figures of the altar of Saint James. From then on the two masters remained friends for life.

1402–1404

A trip to Rome to study antiquity

From 1402 to 1404 Donatello and Brunelleschi visited Rome to study the “antiques”; according to Vasari they dug on the Roman Forum and were almost killed after being taken for treasure hunters. Donatello drew fragments of ancient statues.

1404–1407

Apprentice and assistant in Ghiberti's workshop

In 1404–1407 Donatello is recorded as an apprentice, and for the last few months as a salaried assistant, in Lorenzo Ghiberti's studio, apparently working on the bronze doors of the Florence Baptistery.

1423

“The Feast of Herod” and the start of his work in bronze

By 1423 Ghiberti had not even started work on the reliefs for the Siena Baptistery font, and one of them, “The Feast of Herod”, was given to Donatello instead. That year marks the start of his documented work in bronze: he also received commissions for “Saint Louis of Toulouse” and a reliquary bust of Saint Rossore.

c. 1425

Partnership with Michelozzo

Around 1425 Donatello entered into a formal partnership with Michelozzo, an architect and sculptor about ten years younger: Donatello had too much work and was poor at organising a workshop, at which Michelozzo excelled, while Michelozzo wanted to extract himself from an arrangement with Ghiberti. Both had very good relations with the Medici.

1443

Called to Padua: the Gattamelata monument

In 1443 the heirs of the condottiere Erasmo da Narni, known as Gattamelata, who had died that year, called Donatello to Padua. He spent about ten years there, with a studio near the Santo and several assistants.