Statue Of David By Donatello And Michelangelo

History of art essay

The story of David & goliath is an Old Testament story about a giant who is terrorizing the people of a small village. David, a teenage boy is the only brave and fearless enough to stand up to him. David as told in the biblical tale won by using rocks and a sling. This victory is depicted by famous artists known as Donatello and Michelangelo. In the early 15th century, Donatello was commissioned by the Medici’s to sculpt a lifelike statue of David . He completed the sculpture around the mid 15th century. David is depicted in a bronze statue of young David. He is also depicted as a nude wearing a warrior’s hat looking down at his enemy (the goliath) with a sword with the sharp edge pointed down near the head of the

He completed his work three years after he began. This figure is remarkably different from the figure that Donatello has sculpted. This sculpture Is depicted the same as Donatello’s statue; as a nude free standing figure. It is also a marble statue that remarks a similarity to the Romans and the Greeks. This one is a little different this time it has no head of the goliath beneath him but instead the figure has large hands carrying the rocks and sling before the battle with the goliath. It is a 17 feet tall statue that stands over everyone and it shows power and leadership from the expression on his

There is one: the use of materials. The two artist/ sculptures have used the same type of materials the Greeks and Romans have used in the past but they are both different. Donatello’s David is made of bronze while Michelangelo’s David is made out of marble. Donatello’s David is made in the translation of the bible as a young boy that seems to be that he is thirteen years old it is seen on how the body is made especially his lack of an upper body build. He does not have broad shoulders he represents a child is capable to be powerful. For Michelangelo’s David is very different his depiction of the character in the bible is that of a young man or that of a seventeen year old boy it is seen in his body built. The body that Michelangelo has created his upper body to be very tall and masculine for it represent a strong hold of power in the statue. The statue also appears more humane by the facial expression the people can see the concentration of his face when he is facing his adversary in combat as well as a difference that in Donatello’s David the enemy is defeated. Michelangelo has also put more into focus the hands of the sculpture for future onlookers to focus on the hands of the sculpture. What is in the hands of David is his rocks and sling that he will use to strike his enemy with to destroy him or it. The statue of Donatello’s David has a military helmet on in his statue