A pair of marble cherubs were discovered on the grounds of Vysehrad Castle, north of Budapest. According to researchers, they were created by the Italian sculptor and early Renaissance architect Benedetto da Maiano.
The cherubs are believed to have been part of a Renaissance altar carved from white marble. The authorship of Benedetto da Maiano was confirmed by Professor Francesco Caglioti from the University of Pisa, who recognized the characteristic features of the sculptures of the Italian master.
hungarytoday.hu
"The carvings found, in particular the almost intact heads of cherubs, display many of the characteristics of feathers, hair and facial features, as well as the drapery of the fragmentary angel statues, which are exact copies of the work of Benedetto da Maiano," Professor Caglioti said.
Benedetto da Maiano was an influential Italian sculptor of the early Renaissance. He created outstanding sculptures and architectural works, in particular the Cathedral of Santa Croce (Florence) and the tomb of the Florentine banker Filippo Strozzi.
Archaeologists also managed to find traces of a tragic history. The remains of three young men were found among the broken statues. According to researchers, these were monks.
hungarytoday.hu
The excavations are carried out as part of a project that started in 2021 on the territory of Visegrad Castle, an important medieval landmark in Hungary. In the 18th century, the fortress and palace were destroyed by Habsburg troops during the War for Hungary. To this day, only one tower of the fortress has been completely preserved: the Tower of Solomon.
Source: hungarytoday.hu
