The experts now think this to belong to the sculptor's middle period, but Vasari thought it earlier, and makes it the work which had most influence in establishing his reputation; while according to the archives it was placed in the church before Donatello was living.

Vasari ought to be better informed upon this point than usual, since it was he who was employed in the sixteenth century to renovate S.Croce, at which time the chapel for whose altar the relief was made--that of the Cavalcanti family--was removed.

The relief now stands unrelated to anything.

Every detail of it should be examined; but Alfred Branconi will see to that.

The stone is the grey pietra serena of Fiesole, and Donatello has plentifully, but not too plentifully, lightened it with gold, which is exactly what all artists who used this medium for sculpture should have done.