These have a double interest as being not only Donatello's work but his latest work.

They were incomplete at his death, and were finished by his pupil Bertoldo (1410-1491), and since, as we shall see, Bertoldo became the master of Michelangelo, when he was a lad of fifteen and Bertoldo an old man of eighty, these pulpits may be said to form a link between the two great S.Lorenzo sculptors.

How fine and free and spirited Bertoldo could be, alone, we shall see at the Bargello.

The S.Lorenzo pulpits are very difficult to study: nothing wants a stronger light than a bronze relief, and in Florence students of bronze reliefs are accustomed to it, since the most famous of all--the Ghiberti doors--are in the open air.

Only in course of time can one discern the scenes here.