Zuccone

sculpture by Donatello

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July 15, 2026

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The "Zuccone" is a famous marble statue created by the Italian Renaissance sculptor Donatello around 1427-1435. It is one of five prophet statues Donatello sculpted for the bell tower of the Florence Cathedral.1

The nickname "Zuccone," meaning "pumpkin" or "big gourd" in Italian, refers to the statue's bald head. This work is considered one of Donatello's masterpieces and is renowned for its lifelike depiction and expressive features, which were inspired by ancient Roman portrait busts. The statue conveys a powerful sense of individuality and gravitas, departing from traditional representations of Old Testament prophets.1

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Donatello
Early career
…the eastern niches; the so-called Zuccone (“Pumpkin,” because of its bald head); and the so-called Jeremiah (actually Habakkuk) for the western niches. The Zuccone is deservedly famous as the finest of the campanile statues and one of the artist’s masterpieces. In both the Zuccone and the Jeremiah (1427–35), their whole…
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…the eastern niches; the so-called Zuccone (“Pumpkin,” because of its bald head); and the so-called Jeremiah (actually Habakkuk) for the western niches. The Zuccone is deservedly famous as the finest of the campanile statues and one of the artist’s masterpieces. In both the Zuccone and the Jeremiah (1427–35), their whole…
Read More