Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Reflection on the Renaissance period
Achievement of the Renaissance
The age of the renaissance
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Reflection on the Renaissance period
This paper argues that Donatello is a true renaissance artist by evaluating his art, life, and time that he lived.
One reason that Donatello was proven a true renaissance artist was by his life and the way he lived it. Born in Florence, 1386 Donatello was the son of Niccolo di Betto Bardi who was a member of the Florentine Wool Combers Guild. This gave young Donatello status as the son of a craftsman and placed him on a path of working in the trades. Donatello was educated in the house of the Martelli family, one of the wealthiest Florentine families at that time. It is said that he received his early artistic training in a goldsmith’s workshop, then went on to work shortly in the studio of the well known artist Lorenzo Ghiberti. Before he was 20, he was receiving commissions for his work. "Donatello Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2014.
During his time working with Lorenzo, Donatello received his first payment in November 1406 for assisting Lorenzo in the sculpting of the statues of prophets for the north door of the Florence Baptistery. He executed the seated figure of St. John the Evangelist in 1409-1411, it was so big it took him two years to finish and until 1588 occupied a niche of the old cathedral facade but now resides in Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. A large step was taken forward from Gothic Mannerism in the search for naturalism rendering of human feelings.
Donatello then worked on statues for churches, starting with the statue of St. Mark for the Guild Church of Orsanmichele in 1411-1413. Then a few years later in 1417 he completed the statue of St. George for the Confraternity of the Cuirass-makers. The St. George and the Dragon relief on the statue’ base is one of the first example...
... middle of paper ...
... Donatello's desire to craft a lithe, graceful youth in a stance of celebration and triumph. "David." Artble: The Home of Passionate Art Lovers. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.
In 1430 a well known art patron of that era named Cosimo de Medici bought the Bronze David from Donatello for the court of his Palazzo Medici. This statue now sits in the Bargello Museum in Florence, for all to come by and see the excellent work of this great artist
By evaluating all my research I have come to the conclusion that Donatello is a true renaissance artist because he lived at the time of the renaissance and created a work of art that changed the way everyone of that time looked at art, and challenged them to accept something different and new.
So in conclusion this paper argues that Donatello is a true renaissance artist by evaluating his art, life, and time that he lived.
A little over 6 feet of marble, Donatello’s first version of David was one of his earliest known commisions that mark the beginning of his artistic career. He was commissioned by the Operai of the cathedral of Florence to create a David statue to decorate one of the buttresses. The statue ended up looking too small when placed high up, so it was taken down and later requested to be displayed in Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall. Many historians dismiss his first version of David, calling this piece unoriginal and nothing to praise.
Bernini’s “David” is 5 foot, 7 inches tall and was made in the year 1623. It is from the Baroque period, a time of discovery, exploration and increased trade. Bernini’s “David” is a three-dimensional sculpture that gives the viewer the ability to relate the image with one’s body and not only in one’s mind. Bernini wanted to show the intensity and dramatic tension in the hero David as he prepares to cast the stone from the sling. In contrast to the intensity of Bernini’s David, Michelangelo’s “David” looks much more contemplative, statuesque and less “life-like” than Bernini’s. This marble sculpture, unlike Michelang...
A rediscover of their history and recognition of early Greek philosophers changed the way that the influential families and Princes, in Italy, considered themselves. Their way of thinking of the Devine and need to promote one’s own aspirations through sponsorship of the arts, as well as, civic duty became not only fashionable but important to progress in the city states. Although Donatello’s David and Botticelli’s Primavera are master pieces in their own right, their influence on future generations of artists cannot be ignored. The spark that ignited the fire which we call the Renaissance was a transformation of societies thinking and values to a Humanistic approach to one duties to society and the church. These two works are a reflection of the changing attitudes which would eventually change all of
In the early years of the Quattrocento, the Calimala guild decided to erect a second set of bronze doors showing scenes from the Old Testament. As with most large commissions at that time, a competition was held to find the artist who could create exactly what the guild was looking for in this work of art. Seven of the best sculptors in Tuscany were given one year to complete a panel showing the Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac. However, the real competition was between Filippo Brunelleschi, the future architect of the Cathedral’s dome, and Lorenzo Ghiberti. Opposing stories state that the Calimala guild asked Brunelleschi and Ghiberti to create the panels together. Brunelleschi could not see the panels to completion because he agreed to complete another commission outside of Florence. Ghiberti claims that he won with a unanimous vote from the judges and Brunelleschi was never a part of the creation of the second set of doors. Lorenzo Ghiberti cast one en...
A good deal is known about Donatello's life and career, but little is known about his character. Donatello was born in Florence, Italy in 1386 and died in 1466; he was never married and had no children. He was a master of sculpture in bronze and marble and is considered to be one of the greatest Italian Renaissance artists of his time. The first sculpture is of Donatello?s David, 1425-1430. Its material is bronze and stands 5? 2 ¼? and is currently located at Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence. The sculpture is a nude and is contrapposto. The scene being depicted is after the clash with Goliath. Donatello?s statue of David was the first large scale, free-standing nude statue of the Renaissance. The sculpture helps to strike a balance between classicism and the realism by presenting a very real image of a boy in the form of a classical nude figure. Although Donatello was inspir...
Johnson, Geraldine A. Renaissance Art, A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.
The next sculpture that Michelangelo made was for a French cardinal, Jean Villiers de Fezencac. The cardinal wanted a sculpture of Virgin Mary and Jesus. Michelangelo signed a contract to be paid 450 ducats if he completed the sculpture in one year. Gladly, he finished the sculpture successfully. The sculpture was called the Pieta and consisted of the siting Virgin Mary with the dead body of her son Jesus across her lap (McNeese 35).
Baxandall, M., Giotto and the Orators: Humanist Observers of Painting in Italy and the Discovery of Pictorial Composition, 1350-1450, Oxford, 1971. Bellori, G.P., Le vite detpittori, scultori et architetti modern), Rome, 1672. ed. E. Borea, intro. G. Previtali, Turin, 1976.
Donatello created many bronze sculptures. A huge achievement was his gilt bronze Herod’s feast. Another gilt bronze he made was St. Louis of Toulouse sculpture. One huge milestone was he made the first freestanding bronze naked bronze sculpture (Lewine par 2, 4). He designed twin bronze pulpit for San Lorenzo. The most important bronze sculpture was David was his first free-standing nude statue of the renaissance (“Donatello” par 2, 4).
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi better known as, Donatello, was an artist during the Renaissance art movement. He
Lorenzo De Medici can be considered as one of the most influential men of the 13th century. His work in political affairs and administration were renowned in all Italy and his family could count on him in every aspect. Lorenzo was also a promoter of a new period called Renaissance. He was one of the first “mecenate” to explore this new way of art. In this project, I will concentrate how he developed art in Florence, giving a clear example through an Artist of that period that was working for him: Sandro Botticelli. His work “The Spring” is a well-defined example of what we can call “art in the Renaissance”, in particular for the Italian Renaissance.
One of the ways he did this was by crafting a lot of works: “The world remained so full of his works, that it may be affirmed right truly that no craftsmen ever worked more than he did.” (377) Vasari praises Donatello’s various works throughout the biography. The collection of works that Vasari mentions, suggests that Donatello was more than just a sculptor because he produced and sold many designs. This was similar to a baker or merchant in Renaissance Florence that was constantly selling his or her own product to others. Furthermore, Donatello’s many works were studied and praised by future Renaissance artists. One of the most influential and well known is Michelangelo Buonarroti. At the end of the biography, Vasari leaves the reader with an intriguing quote by Don Vincenzo Borghini that Borghini stated in a book where he collected drawings from esteemed artists. Borghini states that “Either the spirit of Donato works in Buonarroto, or that of Buonarotto began by working in Donato.” (378). Donatello also had other students such as Bertoldo who “he left all his work to be completed by” (377). Donatello inspired and had other students work under him and taught them his craft. Therefore, Donatello inspired Michelangelo and other artists that became famous and excellent artists in their own right. This shows that Donatello left a lasting
Ziegler, Joanna E. “Michelangelo and the Medieval Pietà: The Sculpture of Devotion or the Art
...laced on the style and materials presented in the painting. While evaluating and comparing various paintings the author feels that at the beginning of the Renaissance era the skill level of the artist was often not acknowledged whereas materials were, but at the end of the era, skill level played a larger factor in who was chosen to complete the artwork. Therefore, fresco painting, which emerged near the end of the period, changed this so called “deposit”, along with the relationship of the artist and the patron, allowing for the talent and skill of the artist to shine.
colonnades, a row of columns supporting the roof. The faced, which is a space in