The Miracle of the Speaking Babe

This is a nineteenth century plaster cast copy of the original bronze original by Donatello. On 23 June 1447, Donatello was contracted for four reliefs depicting Miracles performed by St Anthony of Padua. At this stage three of the reliefs, including the Mircale of the Speaking Babe, had already been cast. In this scene, St Anthony causes a week-old infant to name its father, thus saving its mother, who has been unjustly accused of adultery . The original of this relief ispart of the High Altar of the Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padua.