Friends of Florence shares exclusive photos of Donatello’s bronze horse removal

A new milestone in the restoration of Donatello’s Gattamelata monument was reached today in Padua, thanks to the support of Friends of Florence, the Florence-based U.S. non-profit foundation dedicated to preserving Italy’s artistic heritage.

At 2:38 p.m. (Thursday, October 9, 2025), the monumental bronze horse—weighing around 1,600 kilograms—was carefully lifted from its stone pedestal in front of the Basilica of Saint Anthony. The operation, which required weeks of preparation, followed the removal of the rider, Erasmo da Narni, on Wednesday. Both sculptures are now inside the nearby former Civic Museum “Boito,” where diagnostic studies will continue ahead of the full conservation phase.

The project is carried out under the scientific direction of architect Ugo Soragni, with the technical supervision of restorer Nicola Salvioli and the Florentine firm Arterìa, which oversaw the delicate transport. It is coordinated by Italy’s Istituto Centrale per il Restauro and supported jointly by Friends of Florence and Save Venice, marking a major international collaboration for the protection of Renaissance masterpieces.

The removal of the horse was particularly challenging: engineers had to cut iron pins inserted during World War II to anchor the hooves to the base. The stone pedestal, itself an integral part of Donatello’s design, will also undergo consolidation due to internal fragility.

This is only the third time in nearly six centuries that the Gattamelata has been dismantled—previously during the two World Wars for safekeeping. Donatello created the equestrian monument between 1447 and 1453 to honor the condottiero Erasmo da Narni, placing it on the square in front of the basilica around 1457.

Friends of Florence, headquartered in Florence, has been supporting major restorations in Tuscany and beyond for over 25 years—helping preserve the legacy of Italian art for future generations.

Photos by Gianni Berno document the precise moment the horse “touched down” on the square before being transported inside the museum.

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