Michelangelo’s David vs. Donatello’s David
...langelo may have portrayed “David” larger because of what Florence was going through at this time. Florence was in a difficult period, where everyone had to be prepared for possible attacks. Michelangelo could have felt this heroic sculpture could help send patriotic feelings across Florence. Even though both artists were trying to depict the same figure, each must of have had a different perspective when they created their own “David”. Both artist had the same intentions, but they portrayed “David“ in different ways. Mutually, they wanted to tell the story of David vs. Goliath. “Even though David has been captured after the act of slaying Goliath, visually he seems barely strong enough to lift the sword at his side. “(Art- Donatello, David ). Donatello followed the path of the other artists who depicted “David” after slaying Goliath. “Michelangelo breaks away from the traditional way of representing David. He does not present us with the winner, the giant's head at his feet and the powerful sword in his hand, but portrays the youth in the phase immediately preceding the battle: perhaps he has caught him just in the moment when he has heard that his people are hesitating, and he sees Goliath jeering and mocking them.”(Evolving portrayal of David). Unlike the Donatello, Michelangelo showed “David” before the battle; he is awaiting his foe to attack and he is confident that he will be the victor. Each artist had the same intention of telling the story of David vs. Goliath, but each chose a different point in the story to depict. Donatello created his version of “David” during the years of 1428-1432 and for this duration it was the early Renaissance period. Approximately seventy years after Donatello’s “David” , Michelangelo’s “David” was formed during the period of high Renaissance. Each of them had different techniques and styles because of what period they were in. “Early Renaissance artists sought to create art forms consistent with the appearance of the natural world and with their experience of human personality and behavior. The challenge of accurate representation as it concerned mass sculptural form, or the pictorial considerations of measurable space and the effects of light and color, was addressed in the spirit of intense and methodical inquiry.”(La Renaissance: Italy). Donatello’s “David” exemplifies the early Renaissance; he depicts “David” naturally as a young boy, and he shows his “experience of human personality and behavior” by conquering Goliath. “The proportions are not quite true to the human form; the head and upper body are somewhat larger than the proportions of the lower body. While some have suggested that this is matterist stylization, the most commonly accepted explanation is that the statue was originally intended to be placed on a church facade or high pedestal, and that the proportions would appear correct when the statue was viewed from some distance below.” (Michelangelo's David). This period was known as either high Renaissance or Mannerism, which was realistically portraying the human form and to distort the proportions to create an emotional and artistic effect. Michelangelo uses the of styles and techniques of Mannerism period in “David” in the hands and feet, because they are larger compared to the rest of his body, but he intended for this he to show “David” was still young boy growing. Donatello had different techniques and style because he created his “David” in the early Renaissance period, Michelangelo had the techniques and style of the Mannerism period because that was when he created his version of “David”. Each artist had similarities in how they chose to portray “David“, but also had many differences between them. “David stands in the contrapposto pose, weight on one leg with other knee bent.”(Donatello). Donatello chose to a contrapposto pose which is seems to be a relax classical. “The artist places him in the most perfect " contrapposto", as in the most beautiful Greek representations of heroes.”(Evolving portrayal of David). Michelangelo was trying to depict “David” before the battle and with the contrapposto stance it seems as if he was in motion beginning to go towards Goliath. “David, an exception to his previous work, would be completely naked if not for his boots and hat. A hint of romantic charm lies in the figure’s hat. A broad brim garlanded with bay leaves, the hat throws David’s face into a deep shadow and seems to suggest the simple life of a shepherd.”(Art- Donatello, David). Donatello must of done this to illustrate the story of David vs. Goliath, as best he...