Donatello
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi was an artist during the medieval times. He was born in 1386 and he died in 1466. He was from Florence, Spain and is widely known as a sculptor. He is also most known only by the name Donatello. Donatello was part of the early Renaissance period. He used multiple mediums for his sculpting including marble, bronze, terracotta, and wood.
Donatello used a shallow relief style that helped to create perspective for his sculpted pieces. He coined the term schiacciato. It was used to provide the illusion of various angles and viewpoints. It was also referred to as bas-relief. This particular technique brought a great deal of recognition to Donatello. Early training for Donatello began by studying under Lorenzo Ghiberti, a goldsmith. In the goldsmith's workshop, Donatello learned to hone his talent and craft.
Donatello was one of the forerunners of the humanist movement. Humanism is a belief system that values humans individually and collectively and values humans from each perspective possible for humans. This is evident throughout Donatello's work. His most famous works include sculptures of David, Mary Magdalene, Madonna, St. Mark, St. John the Evangelist and St. George and the Dragon. A central focus of humanism is to allow for and focus upon the feelings and emotions of humans. The piece Saint John the Evangelist was a move into this realm and brought attention away from the dominating gothic mannerism style of the time.
Another central theme to Donatello's sculptures is historical figures from the bible. Some of the figures included the Sacrifice of Isaac (1421), Habbakuk (14231425), and Jeremiah (14231426). Also included in his works is the Crucifix. The agony that Christ suffered could be seen through the details on his face. This was representative of the humanist effect and mindset.
The most famous work completed by Donatello was a statue of David, the king from the bible.. David represents the power and strength of God and how good overcomes evil. The statue was commissioned by the cathedral in Florence. The cathedral had intentions of representing 12 different prophets from the bible. The first version of Davis was a marble statue that Donatello worked on from 1408 to 1409. When the statue was placed in the cathedral, it was found to be too small so the statue was not shown as expected. However, in 1416 the government of Florence requested the statue be sent to them to place in the main palazzo (plaza).
A second David statue was made completely of bronze. This was a particularly special feat because bronze had not previously been unsupported. It was a nude statue that showed David with the sword that killed Goliath and a hat that had leaves, thought to be the same as David has worn in the fight between David and Goliath. A great deal of controversy has surrounded this statue from where it was intended to be located but where it is actually located, the shape of David's body and the pose he carries and finally, the effeminate nature of the statue. The controversy and discussion regarding this sculpture still abound today with little definitely decided. What is certain is the sculpture was unlike any previously completed in the medieval ages.
Donatello used a shallow relief style that helped to create perspective for his sculpted pieces. He coined the term schiacciato. It was used to provide the illusion of various angles and viewpoints. It was also referred to as bas-relief. This particular technique brought a great deal of recognition to Donatello. Early training for Donatello began by studying under Lorenzo Ghiberti, a goldsmith. In the goldsmith's workshop, Donatello learned to hone his talent and craft.
Donatello was one of the forerunners of the humanist movement. Humanism is a belief system that values humans individually and collectively and values humans from each perspective possible for humans. This is evident throughout Donatello's work. His most famous works include sculptures of David, Mary Magdalene, Madonna, St. Mark, St. John the Evangelist and St. George and the Dragon. A central focus of humanism is to allow for and focus upon the feelings and emotions of humans. The piece Saint John the Evangelist was a move into this realm and brought attention away from the dominating gothic mannerism style of the time.
Another central theme to Donatello's sculptures is historical figures from the bible. Some of the figures included the Sacrifice of Isaac (1421), Habbakuk (14231425), and Jeremiah (14231426). Also included in his works is the Crucifix. The agony that Christ suffered could be seen through the details on his face. This was representative of the humanist effect and mindset.
The most famous work completed by Donatello was a statue of David, the king from the bible.. David represents the power and strength of God and how good overcomes evil. The statue was commissioned by the cathedral in Florence. The cathedral had intentions of representing 12 different prophets from the bible. The first version of Davis was a marble statue that Donatello worked on from 1408 to 1409. When the statue was placed in the cathedral, it was found to be too small so the statue was not shown as expected. However, in 1416 the government of Florence requested the statue be sent to them to place in the main palazzo (plaza).
A second David statue was made completely of bronze. This was a particularly special feat because bronze had not previously been unsupported. It was a nude statue that showed David with the sword that killed Goliath and a hat that had leaves, thought to be the same as David has worn in the fight between David and Goliath. A great deal of controversy has surrounded this statue from where it was intended to be located but where it is actually located, the shape of David's body and the pose he carries and finally, the effeminate nature of the statue. The controversy and discussion regarding this sculpture still abound today with little definitely decided. What is certain is the sculpture was unlike any previously completed in the medieval ages.