Rumour has it that he was a pupil of Donatello but what is fact is that after Donatello died he was ranked as the principal sculptor in Florence. Moreover, he executed many works for the Medici.

His sculpture was the lightness to Donotello's darkness and tragic power. Verrocchio's work was all elegance of pose and grace. Nowhere is this combination more apparent than a work completed after his death by the bronze-founder Leopardi in 1495, the equestrian monument to Bartolommeo Colleone in Venice. And, of course, in his David (before 1746, Florence, Bargello).

He ran a large and successful shop, accepting orders for paintings as well as sculpture and goldsmith's work. His principal assistant in later years was Lorenzo di Credi. More importantly, he was also the master and, probaly, employer of Leonardo da Vinci.

Collections:

• Berlin
• Budapest
• Edinburgh (National Gallery)
• Florence (Bargello, Cathedral Mus., Orsanmichele, S. Lorenzo, Pal. della Signori)
• London (National Gallery, V & A, Courtauld Inst)
• New York (Met. Mus.)
• Paris (Louvre)
• Pistoria (Cath.)
• Toledo Ohio
• Washington (NG)

//Gallery//