The present article relates the terracotta bust of 'Saint Bernardino of Siena' in the Museo della Compagnia di Santa Maria in Portico a Fontegiusta (Siena) to the early artistic production of Francesco di Giorgio.
The article points out the similarities and differences of this piece – an important work though one that has been neglected in studies on Sienese Renaissance sculpture – compared to the well-known statue of the Franciscan preacher sculpted in wood by Lorenzo di Pietro, known as Vecchietta, today in the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence.
In the context of three-dimensional representations of Saint Bernardino the author also proposes identifying Urbano da Cortona as the maker of the half figure of the Franciscan friar modelled in terracotta and on display in the Oratorio di Sant'Anna in Sant'Onofrio in Siena.
The study reconsiders and updates the corpus of early sculptures by Francesco di Giorgio, underlining their connections with Vecchietta and Donatello.
The review of the artist's catalogue is prompted by a reassessment of three important works, linked to Francesco di Giorgio or attributed to other artists: the wooden 'Crucifix' of the church of San Girolamo in Volterra, the wooden 'Saint Peter' in the church of San Giorgio in Montemerano (Grosseto), and the bronze bas-relief with 'The Scourging of Christ' of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.