Gianlorenzo Bernini's Statue Of David

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The biblical story of David is represented in two different styles of art due to time period. The stories being told differ because of the impression they’re trying to make on the people of their time period. The statue of David by Michelangelo is a representation of the uplifting of the city and it’s political views. The High Renaissance Era was a very political time, so Michelangelo portrayed the . In the Italian Baroque Era, art focuses on movement, determination, and tension. Therefore, Gianlorenzo Bernini intended to depict his statue of David as if he were in battle, so viewers felt the presence of the sculpture. As you analyze the two sculptures, you see the difference in symbolic meaning and the messages being portrayed. In the High Renaissance Era, the ideas of classical humanism were fully implemented within sculptures and paintings. Michelangelo soon created a god-like marble statue named David, of a human on the highest pedestal. Michelangelo’s David embodies a strong, focused, and athletic male nude preparing for battle. David’s …show more content…

During that period, statues were sculpted in action capturing the moment, while forcefully being thrust into viewer’s space. Similar to Michelangelo, Bernini sculpts an almost perfect god-like figure of a human man. Bernini’s David had a different body position that brought emphasis on David’s next action, as if he were in battle. David is crouched low with a twist leaning towards one side ready to launch the deadly rock at Goliath. Bernini’s detail lets you see the determination and perseverance on David’s face with his tightly clinched mouth and fierce gaze at Goliath. By capturing David in mid-action, it allows the viewers to feel as if Goliath is behind them. In addition, this engages the viewer and ultimately bringing out the emotion of fear. Bernini’s David is all about the involvement, determination and dramatic

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