Donatello
Kyle Lagerquist (R/S 2)
Biography of Donatello
- Born around 1836 in Florence, Italy
- Spent most of life in Italy and specifically Rome, Pisa, Florence, and Padua
- Trained as goldsmith
- Easy lifestyle and always hard at work, became leading sculptor in the early renaissance, and traveled to many places to work on projects
- Was a sculptor and pieces include; David, commission of the guild saints St. Mark and St. George, marble statue of cathedral of Florence, and high bronze alter in Basilica of St. Anthony
- Patrons include; Medici Family, Filippo Brunelleschi, Leon Battista Alberti, and Lorenzo Ghiberti
The bronze David
- This is The bronze David
- Created between 1430 - 1440
- Today is located in Bargello Museum in Florence, Italy
- First unsupported, standing work of bronze cast during the renaissance
- First freestanding, nude, male sculpture since antiquity
- I find this piece so interesting because the sculpture tells an entire story of David and Goliath in one pose. It shows David's pride after being victorious and him triumphing by standing on top of Goliath's head.
- Exemplifies humanism because it perfected the human form and showed the human body as one whole functioning being and the personality of this human radiates a confident person.
Bibliography
"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.