Donatello
By: Ash Samuel
Birth
Life
Donatello spent most of his life in Pisa and Pada, Rome. Donatello was very observant, creative, smart, religious, and driven. He was always fascinated by the world around him. Donatello would analyze the people looking at his work to see how found they were about them.
Education and Training
Trained as a goldsmith in the workshop of Lorenzo Ghiberti he would carve and mold swords which later inspired him to do his own personal works.
Type of Art
Donatello created mostly carving and sculptures. Some of his work includes Saint George, Marzocco and Gattamelata.
Patrons
Donatello's 3 most important Patrons were Filippo Brunelleschi who helped get into main stream art. Leon Battista critiqued Donatello's work for the most part. Lorenzo Ghiberti gave Donatello his start.
Humanism and Individualism
Donatello glorified humans in all his work and showed much appreciation for them. His pieces also depicted their accomplishments in life.
Saint George
1414-17
Location
Donatello's Saint George is Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence, Italy.
Significance
Saint George was ignored in the first two centuries it was for display but it was rediscovered in the 19th century and now has become an emblem of the early renaissance statues. This statue gave hope to many Christians that a man can slay a dragon,
Description
This piece depicts the bravery and youthfulness of Saint George. I think it is pretty cool that he is slaying a dragon at the bottom of the statue. Saint George is also giving us a look that he is better than us.
Idividualism
This piece displays one man fairly good looking and youthful. At the bottom you see him slaying the dragon heroically. He is in expensive clothing with expensive weaponry so he must be very wealthy also.
Why I chose it?
The main reason I chose it is because it is a very important piece in the early renaissance. This was also my favorite piece by Donatello. And the fact that he is slaying a dragon is a bonus.
Citations
"Donatello." World Eras. Ed. Norman J. Wilson. Vol. 1: European Renaissance and Reformation, 1350-1600. Detroit: Gale Group, 2001. Biography in Context. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
"St. George." Artble: The Home of Passionate Art Lovers. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
"ARTstor Library." ARTstor Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
Where might you see a picture?
You could always just look it up in google or artble is a great source
http://www.artble.com/artists/donatello/sculpture/st_george