Most studies of tomb sculpture in Late Medieval and Early Modern Europe have focused on the attribution and dating of individual monuments, or have presented typological surveys that emphasize the formal development over time of genres such as wall monuments and floor tombs. This chapter discusses that the tomb, in the north-eastern transept of Siena Cathedral in the chapel of Saint Ansanus, was originally located in front of the high altar in the center of the old canons' choir over the site where the Bishop's body had been buried. The specific ceremonies probably performed during Bishop Pecci's funeral are important for understanding the full implications of Donatello's tomb design. A number of earlier tombs also chose to highlight the funeral ceremony, often the moment of absolution in particular, within their compositions. There were numerous precedents that could have influenced Donatello's bronze relief tomb in Siena Cathedral.
