|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
David By Donatello 30.5" High Sculpture |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
David By Donatello 30.5" High Sculpture
Donatello's bronze sculpture of David is an unsupported sculpture in bronze. It created a sensation, when it was first revealed in the 1400's, due to its portrayal of a nude young male. Donatello depicts young David with an enigmatic smile, posed with his foot on Goliath's severed head just after killing the giant. This sculpture sculpture has David standing naked, with only a laurel-topped hat and boots, bearing the sword of Goliath. Donatello's sculpture struck a balance between classicism and the realism by presenting an image of an Italian peasant boy in the form of a nude adolescent boy whose arms are underdeveloped and appears weak. Donatello, always interested in the psychology of his subject, attempts to interlace subtle insights into the psychology of David in this sculpture by making it seem impossible that David could have accomplished such a feat. At the same time Donatello has given David the look that he is astonished of his deed as he glances down towards his body, and yet still allows David's intellect, faith and courage to become apparent. Neither the stance nor the face of David conveys a sense of pride in his victory, and yet David wears a crown of leaves, connecting him with the heroes of antiquity. Donatello did a masterful job in demonstrating David's physical frailty by contrasting it with the absurdly large sword of Goliath which David holds by his side. In a way, Donatello sculpture of David gives us all hope or understanding that strength and size cannot always win over courage, intellect and faith. When you compare the sculptures of David between Donatello, Verrocchio, Michelangelo and Bernini, you can see they differ drastically. Donatello presented David, after the fight, as a young boy who seemed incapable and amazed at his feat. Verrocchio's David, also an adolescent, appears somewhat older and has more self-confidence than Donatello's David. Michelangelo's David has just reached manhood and seems capable of great physical feats, like defeating Goliath. Finally, Bernini's David is a full grown man. He, like Michelangelo's David, also appears to be strong, brave and gifted enough to slaughter Goliath.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
