Donatello's masterpiece in marble – 'The Ascension' | V&A

Discover Donatello's masterpiece in marble, 'The Ascension with Christ giving the Keys to St Peter'. 'The Ascension' is one of the finest surviving examples of Donatello’s rilievo schiacciato (literally 'squashed relief') – a very shallow carving technique that can seem almost like drawing on the surface of the marble.

Here Lead Curator Peta Motture takes us through the intricacies of this incredible piece, from the tiny city set in the distance, to charming cherubs disappearing behind the clouds, and other fascinating details which can be easy to miss. Peta also explains how the carving comes to life in changing light conditions, and discusses the mysteries which still surround its creation.

00:00 Donatello's 'squashed relief' technique
00:51 Christ ascending to heaven and handing the keys to St Peter
01:12 The Virgin Mary
01:23 Tiny city of Jerusalem
01:48 What is raking light?
02:17 Angels, cherubs and 'sculpting air'
02:57 Creating a sense of depth, like drawing on marble
03:41 The Virgin's hands
04:17 What was the intention of the piece?

Find out more about the Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance exhibition and book tickets: https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/don...