Florentine Davids

Donatello's marble David, made for the Operai del Duomo in 1409, and transferred in 1416 to the Palazzo Vecchio, bore the following inscription: "To those who fight strongly for the fatherland, God lends aid even against the most terrible foes."

Donatello's bronze David apparently was associated with the following inscription: "The victor is whoever defends the fatherland. God crushes the wrath of an enormous foe. Behold! a boy overcame a great tyrant. Conquer, O citizens!.'

In 1495, soon after Piero de' Medici was forced into exile, the Signoria ordered the removal of several works of art from the Medici palace. Donatello's bronze David was placed in the Palazzo Vecchio, joining his marble David, which had been moved there in 1416, and Verrocchio's bronze David, which Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici had sold to the Signoria in 1476. Donatello's bronze Judith was moved from the Medici gardens to the platform immediately to the left of the main entrance of the Palazzo Vecchio.

Donatello, Judith and Holofernes

Bore the following inscriptions: "Kingdoms fall through luxury, cities rise by virtues. Behold the neck of pride severed by the hand humility." A second inscription was added probably in the mid-1460's: " The salvation of the state. Piero de' Medici, the son of Cosimo, dedicated this statue of a woman both to liberty and to fortitude, whereby the citizens with unvanquished and constant heart might return to the republic."