David
The term Renaissance (approx 1400-1520AD) art seems to draw to mind feelings of a rebirth, a reincarnation of artistic expression in a sense. For Donatello though, living amongst such a time period did not seem to skew his artistic grandeur. In creating his sculptural rendition of the biblical character David, he employed classical models in order to convey a sense of realism. His stylistic approach in crating David was of a type uncommon and un-witnessed since the days of the classical era. Dating around 1440 AD, it was the first large-scale bronze nude statue in the renaissance. Donatello took great inspiration from classical models when he created his sculpture of David. His model for David though did not turn out to be a Greek youth in his prime. Instead, he seems to have chosen a barely developed adolescent boy, with a great deal of feminine features. David is mainly a closed-form sculpture cast out of bronze. The objects represented throughout the sculpture as well as his limbs appear in a type of S-curve stance balancing his human form. His arms appear to be a little more then feeble due to lack of muscle and he also seems to be having trouble holding the sword letting it rest to his side. Almost looking seam
Even though David has been captured after the act of slaying Goliath, visually, he hardly seems strong enough to lift Goliath's sword as his hand is limp and shows no sign of grip. Based on its distinctive style, its hard to put this piece into a chronology concerning Donatello's other pieces. Stunned, the giant started to fall to the ground falling face down. In the epic battle that day, David took with him all but a sling as the armor he was supposed to wear was too heavy. David proves to be a piece unlike most of Donatello's works for the numerous references and borrowings from classical models. Donatello's use of classical antecedents in the work David, conveys more so then a sculpture, it provides a look into the past and into the feelings and struggle that took place in battle that epic day. Most people concur that David was created in the classical style, but are quick to disagree as to the date of its production. Most scholars will agree though, that it was most likely produced around the 1440's. This took the giant by surprise as it ended up dinting his brow deeply. 3 David stands on a circular platform, a type of garnished pedestal with one foot on Goliath's severed helmeted head looking smooth and polished. Donatello was one of the most important fifteenth century artists whose bronze David appears to be an enigma as it is completely unlike his other works in its unusual style, and classical time of origin. Most of his weight appears to be situated on his back leg allowing the other to look slender and sleek, a style attributable to that of a much earlier period. The major distinction with Greek art was that it was extremely narrative; in accordance is the sculpture of David. This is conveyed in the sculpture as he is nude wearing all but a hat and shoes, in opposition to Goliath who was heavily clad in armor.
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,
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