Donatello, David, circa 1440, bronze, 5 ft
Goliath's Head Torso and left hand
David
Donatello. c. 1440-1460 C.E. Florence, Italy. Bronze
Donatello. c. 1440-1460 C.E. Florence, Italy. Bronze
Nearly everything about the statue - from the material from which it was sculpted to the subject's "clothing" - was mold-breaking in some way. Scholars and artists have studied David for centuries in an attempt to both learn more about the man behind it and to more fully discern its meaning.
Content:
- 5 feet tall
- Material: bronze
- intimate, beautiful and vulnerable: warm tones of the bronze and small size: feel a closer connection
- sensuality which contradicts that this is an old testament subject/ not a biblical representation
- Gruesome head vs with beauty and sensuality of young David= Donatello depicted David’s innocence (instead of more masculine and frightening) in such a gruesome event
- the bronze: smooth the seams and the surface and to cut in details (like the hair): just like Greeks/ Romans
- intimacy: the nudity, the expression of the face, and the stance of the body
- Contrapposto: natural stance very similar to ancient Greeks/ Romans
- Free-standing: detached from the architecture gives it the freedom to move in the world, show expression, and communicate with you + contraposto= humanistic
Argument: Pride vs Thought:
Thoughtful:
- unexpected representation of the story of David and Goliath (how the boy and scene was characterized in the story)
- Why? triumphal victorious figure (he just defeated the Giant, the whole Israelite army was afraid, and he had God’s might on his side!) but we see a thoughtful, quiet, contemplative face
- downcast eyes + the lids are half closed= not an expression of victory
- subtle pride: the facial muscles are relaxed, the mouth is lightly closed + smile small
- the face of thought not boasting: David if reflecting on killing the Giant and the might of God, he understands it was God that made him victorious, has wisdom with Gods intervention
Pride:
- Pride/ confidence= relaxed contrapposto + the placement of his left hand nonchalantly on his hip feels
- right-hand holds the sword that he used to cut off Goliath's head, resting on a victory wreath: shows his power and confidence with Gods help
- David has swagger in his stance onto of the beheaded Goliath= gives an unnerving feel
- Strange that he shows pride because God helped him: didn't do this by himself
Context:
David:
- Donatello: studying ancient Roman art: displays classical knowledge of contrapposto + large-scale bronze casting of the ancient world
- During the Middle Ages: had not seen human-scaled bronze figures until the David= first free-standing nude figure since classical antiquity (Ancient Greece/ Rome)
- Donatello displays ancient Greek and Roman art of the naked human body
- Middle ages: a period when the focus was on God and the soul and didn’t create nude art
- first free-standing nude figure since classical antiquity
Placement:
- Public structure= it was put in a niche high up in one of the buttresses of the Cathedral of Florence and commissioned by the Office of Works for the Cathedral
- courtyard of the Medici Palace in Florence (private and intimate setting)
Background of what is represented (bible story):
- David and Goliath, from the Old Testament
- Israel is threatened by Goliath (giant)
- Goliath threatened the Israelites and demand someone come fight him: but the entire army feared him
- David (young shepherd boy challenges to fight the giants: father said was scared for son and try to convince him to not
- David knows that he can beat Goliath because he has killed many wild animals that tried to attack his flock= he believes since the Lord saved him from the animals that attacked his flock he will save and help him with Goliath
- David tells Goliath: you may come to me with all your swords and a big/strong body but I will take you down because the lord is on my side (paraphrase)
- Kills him with a stone throw with his sling and beheads him
Function:
- represent the story of David and Goliath
- tell Christian follows that with challenges, Gods might will help you
- You will gain wisdom and strength from God
- People of Florence identified ed with David: believed that they defeated their enemy (the Duke of Milan) with the help of God
