Comparison Of Michelangelo's David And The Rape Of Proserpina

Though separated by more than a century and the hands of two different certifiable artistic geniuses. Michelangelo’s David and Bernini’s The Rape of Proserpina are both similar in medium but vary vastly with their meaning. These differences can be identified and analyzed through the iconographic method. If one looked at The Rape of Proserpina, a large man, a petite woman and three-headed dog could quite easily be spotted. These characters are all parts of a marble statue and the man seems to be enjoying himself while the woman seems to be in distress to say the least! These two different attitudes the figures give off, creates an atmosphere of conflict. The difference in size of the two characters blatantly unfair and one sided. What formal features create this impression? Looking at Michelangelo’s David, the only subject is a man, rather than a man and two other figures. This man wields a slingshot in his hand and a very focused expression on his face. This look the man has on his face generates a very serious and suspenseful atmosphere, where David could combat anything at a moment’s notice. Each work produces

The man, can be identified as Hades, the God of the Underworld according to Greek mythology because of the Cerberus. The petite woman in this statue is Proserpina. There is a Greek myth which explains the cause of the seasons, Hades kidnaps Proserpina while she is picking flowers and proceeds to keep her in the underworld until her mother comes and rescues her. The statue brings this story to life. In Michelangelo’s David, the man with a sling can be identified as David, from the biblical story of David and Goliath, where David slays giant warrior Goliath with a slingshot. Without the sling in the statue it would be nearly impossible to identify who this statue is