Donatello
Donatello (1386-1466) was a master of sculpture in bronze and marble and was considered one of the greatest Italian Renaissance artists of his time. There is much more to know about him, though then the name alone. He has created some of the greatest works of art, not only in the Italian renaissance, but human history as well. A lot is known about his life and career but little is known about his character and personality. Donatello never married and seems to be a man of 'simple tastes'. Patrons often found him hard to deal with and he demanded a lot of artistic freedom. Donatello, born Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi, was the son of Niccolo di Betto Bardi, a Florentine wool carder. It is not known how he started his career but probably learned stone carving from one of the sculptors working for the cathedral of Florence about 1400. Some time between 1404 and 1407 he became a member of the workshop of Lorenzo Ghiberti who was a sculptor in bronze. Donatello's earliest work was a marble statue of David. The "David" was originally made for the cathedral but was moved in 1416 to the Palazzo Vecchio, a city hall where it long stood as a civic-patriotic symbol. From the sixteenth century
Lorenzo shows the same technique but with color added. Offers of other places reached him from Mantua, Modena, Ferrara, and even Naples, but nothing came of them. His departure from the standards of Brunelleschi did not go to well between the two old friends and was never repaired. Whether the "David" was requested by the Medici or not, Donatello worked for them (1433-1443), producing sculptural decorations for the Old Sacristy in S. The earliest and most important of these was the "Feast of Herod" (1423-1427). In 1443 Donatello was about to start work on two more bronze doors for the cathedral. Donatello had also become a major sculptor in bronze. John the Baptist for Siena cathedral, also undertook the work of the pair of bronze doors in the late 1450's. Donatello only completed two works between 1450 and 1455, the wooden statue "St. These twin bronze pulpits covered with reliefs showing the passion of Christ are works of tremendous spiritual depth and complexity.
Common topics in this essay:
Baptist Siena,
Lorenzo Medici,
Feast Herod,
Italian Renaissance,
Naples Donatello,
Mary Magdalen,
St George,
Killing Dragon,
John Evangelist,
Late Florentine,
st john,
italian renaissance,
bronze doors,
st george,
palazzo vecchio,
statue st,
donatello partnership michelozzo,
john baptist,
twin bronze,
bronze earliest,
bronze statue,
statue st john,
twin bronze pulpits,
st john evangelist,
st john baptist,
|
Acceptance Essays
