Kopf eines bärtigen Heiligen mit Tonsur (Fragment)

Two Fragments from the Carnesecchi Tabernacle

Head of a Tonsured, Bearded Saint Head of a Tonsured, Beardless Saint

These heads are the only remaining fragments of two standing saints which once flanked a fresco of the Madonna and Child, high up on the external wall of a house in Florence owned by the Carnesecchi family. Intended to be seen from below, the saints' haloes hover above their heads at an angle, increasing the sense of space around them.

This street tabernacle, a large outdoor shrine, was one of the first works Domenico Veneziano painted after he arrived in the city. It was visible to everyone who passed by, including those taking part in the religious processions that often passed along this street.