Can Donatello's lion survive an earthquake?

Imagine a phone on a table. Now imagine the table shaking like during an earthquake. The phone could slide or tip over, just like Donatello's Marzocco statue, the lion symbol of Florence, displayed at the Bargello Museum. This sculpture, made of the lion, base, and marble pedestal, was analyzed by researchers to see how it reacts to seismic shocks. The scientists created a computer model, a bit like a physics video game, and simulated seven different earthquakes. They considered various ways the statue could fall: just the lion, the lion with base, or the whole sculptural group. The results show that the Marzocco holds up fairly well, thanks to its solid structure. The study is important for understanding how to protect art masterpieces from earthquakes, preserving them for the future.

The study uses an advanced method called nonlinear dynamic analysis, performed on a finite element model. Researchers considered three possible collapse mechanisms: overturning of the statue alone, overturning of the statue-base group, and overturning of the entire statue-base-pedestal assembly. The seismic input was defined through a set of seven accelerograms, compatible with the design spectrum specified by technical standards. Both ground accelerations and those amplified at the museum floor level, due to the building's vibrational response, were analyzed. The analysis showed satisfactory seismic performance, but also highlighted the sensitivity of the results to modeling assumptions, such as the stiffness of contacts between the marble components.