Erasmo of Narni

This article is about the condottiero. For Donatello's equestrian statue, see Gattamelata (Donatello).
Gattamelata
Detail of Donatello's equestrian statue of Gattamelata
Born
Erasmo da Narni

1370
Narni, Umbria, Papal States
Died16 January 1443(1443-01-16) (aged 72–73)
Padua, Venetian Republic
OccupationCondottiero
ChildrenPolissena
Donatello's equestrian statue of Gattamelata

Erasmo Stefano of Narni (1370 – 16 January 1443), better known by his nickname of Gattamelata (meaning "Honeyed Cat"), was an Italian condottiero of the Renaissance. He was born in Narni, and served a number of Italian city-states: he began with Braccio da Montone, served the Papal States and Florence, as well as the Republic of Venice in 1434 in the battles with the Visconti of Milan.

He was the subject of Donatello's equestrian bronze sculpture in the main square of Padua, the same city over which he became podestà in 1437.

In Narni, the farmhouse in which Gattamelata was born bears a plaque reading "Narnia me genuit Gattamelata fui" ("I was born in Narni, I was Gattamelata").[1]

  1. ^ Silipo, A. Santarelli, Marco (ed.). "Guide of the Comune di Narni" (PDF). Sitio Instituzionale del Comune di Narni. Municipality of Narni. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 6, 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2018.