4 Davids

Jennifer Keefe Professor Mark Moak Art History 1 celestial latitude 2011 The Life and Times of the Four David Artists Through knocked out(p) the social classs at that place were many big inventionists who created many great works of art, but only quadruple Italian artists re in ally stick out for creating the homogeneous piece all with assorted points of views. These artists were Donatello, Verrocchio, Michelangelo, and Bernini, all of who created a David sculpt. Each one very unique and different. These four artists all stand out in there own individual ways. David who was supposed to be the snatch king of Israel, killed lusus naturae with just a sling and a single stone.The story of David and monstrosity goes something the like this, according to the bible in 1 Samuel 17. The Philistine army gathered for war against the Israelites. The two armies set about each other on opposite sides of a valley. A Philistine giant named Goliath, would come out in armor and challeng e the Israelites to war. The King of Israel who at that time was capital of Minnesota, and his whole army were sc ared of Goliath. David who was the youngest parole of Jesse, was sent to battle for one simple task, to bring his father back news of his brothers. While there, David hear Goliath shouting and saw the fear that had began to turn up in the men of Israel.David volunteered himself to fight Goliath, it took sometime for Saul to agree, but finally he gave in. Dressed in his simple tunic, carrying only his staff, slingshot and a bulk panoptic of stones, David approached Goliath. The giant cursed at him, reservation horrible threats and insults. David said to Goliath, You come against me with make and shaft and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the headmaster Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you defy defied today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the whole world will know that there is a God in Is rael t is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves for the battle is the Lords, and he will give all of you into our hands. As Goliath moved in for the kill, David reached into his mantrap and took out a single stone and aimed for Goliaths head. Finding a hole in the armor, the stone sank into Goliaths forehead and caused Goliath to fall face down on the ground. David then took Goliaths sword, killed him and cut move out his head. When the Philistines saw that their wedge was dead, they turned around and ran. At this moment the Israelites began to pursue, chase and kill their enemy (1 Samuel 17). As time went on four very different artists became inspired to create their own very different and very unique Davids. These four artists were Donatello, Verrocchio, Michelangelo and Bernini. First was Donatello. Donatello was an early Italian artist and sculptor from Florence. Donatello is well know for doing most of his work in bas-relief, which is a shallow relief, which is well inc orporated in his 14th snow works. Donatello created many major works such as the statue of St. Mark in 1411 through 1413. In 1417 Donatello terminate St. George, which is shown in bas relief and shows one of the scratch xamples of cardinal point perspective. Central point perspective is when all the perspective lines come from one point in the painting or drawing. One of the things that I subscribe to about that I found funny was that Donatello sculpted a tabernacle for his work but was exchange in 1460 to hold Verrocchios Incredulity of St. Thomas. Between 1415 and 1426, Donatello created five more statues for Giottos campanile of Santa mare del Fiore in Florence, which to some of us we like to call the Duomo. The five works that are in the campanile are the Beardless Prophet, the Bearded Prophet, which were both do in he year 1415, the Sacrifice of Isaac in 1421, Habbakuk in the years 1423 through 1425, and Jeremiah in the years 1423 through 1426. These works follow clas sical models for viewers and show strong details. In 1425 Donatello created a piece titled Crucifix, which shows Christ in a moment of agony, with his eyeball and mouth slightly opened. Between the years of 1425 through 1427, Donatello worked with some other artist by the name of Michelozzo on the monument for the Antipope John XXII for the monument that would be in Florence. Donatello completed a marble dialog box monument for Cardinal Rainaldo Brancacci in a church inNaples, int the year 1427. Around the same time he did two statues called Faith and Hope for a baptistery in Siena. Donatello created a perfect balance in the midst of Classicism and realism in my mind. This was created from an image of an Italian boy who looked like a Classical naked figure (Fichner-Rathus 331). I didnt know this, I just thought it was something that he created from his mind. Although Donatello was inspired by Classical figures, he chose a young boy whose arms appear weak because of the lack of muscles. after(prenominal) defeating Goliath, whose head lies at Davids feet, he rests his sword by his side, hich looks like it was almost to heavy for David to handle. It seems almost hopeless that a young boy like David could have succeeded in such a task. David himself look walk out aback even by his own deed as he glances down on the body of Goliath. Apparently, Davids intellect, faith and courage made up for his lack of build (Fichner- Rathus 331-332). Donatellos David now sits in the Medici. Second was Verrocchio, who withal designed a sculpture of David. Verrocchio in my opinion was one of the best known sculptors of his time in the fifteenth century. Verrocchio was born in Florence around the year 1435.Some people say that he canvass to a lower place Donatello, but no one knows for sure, some people also say that he might have studied under a painter named Lippi. It is a mystery that has yet to be solved and may never be solved. Verrocchios main works are dated ba ck to his late twenties. His studio apartment or workshop was in Florence where he was a member of the Guild of St. Luke. Some more great artists passed through his studio such as Leonardo da Vinci and Lorenzo di Credi. Some of the works that were created by his students are often times hard to distinguish between his own works and theirs. Towards the end of his life he opened a ew workshop in Venice where he was functional on a sculpture of Bartolomeo Colleoni. Eventually he left his workshop in the hands of one of his apprentices Lorenzo di Credi. Verrocchio died in Venice around the year 1488. Verrocchios figure of David is one the most famous works of his time and still is today. In Verrocchios David, I see a strong contrast between the way that Verrocchio treated the same melodic theme that Donatello did. Verrocchios brave man appears somewhat sometime(a) and excludes pride and self- confidence rather than a languid gaze of disbelief (Fichner-Rathus 334). I personally houg ht that Verrocchios David looked surprised but also quite soaring of himself. Verrocchio had slim detail that showed in his David, where as Donatello did a very good job with his realism and making the torso of David seem different. Verrocchios sculpture also looks like a different technique was used. Donatellos David has closed objects and Davids limbs are in created in what they call an S- curve stance, which helped with his human form. An S- curve is where the calf and the thigh are bent so that the leg creates the shape of an S, which is very different from Verrocchios sculpture because his is more open.For example, the sword and elbow are sticking out, away from the center of the body. Donatellos graceful pose had been replaced in the Verrocchio, by a jaunty contrapposto that enhances Davids image of self-confidence (Fichner-Rathus 334). The third artist that created a David sculpture was Michelangelo. Michelangelo was probably one of the great artists that ever lived duri ng his time. Michelangelo was born during the biggest period of Western art also known as Renaissance Italy, which at that time was the most artistically developed country. Not only was Michelangelo a sculptor, but was also a fresco painter.Michelangelo created The Creation and The Last Judgement, both of which are in the Sistine Chapel. The start of Michelangelos career started in Florence, which at the time was under Lorenzo the Magnificent. Things were changing after the death of the anti-Renaissance Priest and the leader of Florence. Michelangelo was asked to complete an marginal project that was al conveyy started 40 years earlier by an artist named Agostino di Duccio. This project was a Brobdingnagian statue of David, which symbolized the freedom of the Florentine republic. This statue of David was to be placed in the Piazza della Signoria which is front of thePalazzo Vecchio. This masterpiece was created out of a solid marble block. This was a huge advantage for Michelangel o because he was able to use this to establish himself as a sculptor of incredible talent and strength for his imagination. Michelangelo had a very strong character from what I have read about him. He preferred to work by himself, rather then working with others, which is probably where he gets such a sense of independence and strong character. Ive also read that Michelangelo would lose his temper and would end up in sticky situations because of it. Julius II who was the pope t the time, made Michelangelo bend over backwards at his feet to try and get him to get him to finally paint the fence and ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. His reputation as a sculptor was established when he carved his David at the keenness of twenty-seven from a single piece of what seemed like to everyone else as an unworkable piece of marble. Unlike the Davids that were created by Donatello and Verrocchio, Michelangelos David is not shown after defeating Goliath instead, David is portrayed as a most beautif ul animal preparing to kill-not by savagery and brute force, but by intellect and skill (Fichner-Rathus 345). Over his shoulder is Davids sling, and the stone is sit down in the palm of his right hand. Michelangelos David shows the young face of David who has just reached adulthood and shows great physical and ingenious attributes. Michelangelos sculpture is close in form, like Donatellos David. All the elements move firmly around a central axis (Fichner-Rathus 345). Finally, there is Bernini. Bernini had many early works before he created his David sculpture in 1623. Bernini studied under Cardinal Scipione Borghese, who was a member of the reigning papal family at that time. Under Cardinal Scipione, Bernini arved his first group of life size sculptures. Berninis first life size sculpture was called Aeneas, Anchises and Ascanius Fleeing Troy which was created in 1619. Berninis second sculpture was created in 1622 called Pluto and Proserpina. In 1624 Bernini created Apollo and Dap hne which was supposed to be viewed as a relief. Apollo and Daphne standing near each other looking as though they could be in motion. Apollos left arm is resting on Daphnes left hip. This statue is in the Galleria Borghese in Rome. ( Italian Master). The deification of Theresa is another sculpture that was done between 1644 and 1647.This sculpture was made the church of the Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome. This sculpture was created for Saint Theresa because she would write religious narratives. In one of here narratives she talks about her relationship with immortal as a burning arrow piercing through her heart (Meyer 10), I thought a description of a relationship between a human and God would be a little more beautiful and not so morbid. The sculpture of Emperor Constantine, which was sculpted between 1654-1670 out of marble, is another one of Berninis works of art. It is located in the Vatican in Rome. The statue has drapes in it that are not marble but stucco.In 1623 Bern ini created his David, which is very different from those of Donatello, Verrocchio and Michelangelo. Bernini had neither Donatellos triumphant boy or Michelangelos posturing adolescent. Berninis hero is full-grown and fully engaged-both physically and psychologically. Davids aim shows his muscular body as it twists just a split second before slinging the stone that he has grasped in his left hand. David stands alone, but Goliath is simply just envisioned in the viewers mind as standing directly arse David. As a viewer looking at the sculpture of David, I am almost tempted to flirt the fight in my mind and pretend hat I am ducking in baseball club to avoid being hit with a stone. It is the anticipation of violent action that heightens this confrontation as Davids possible power is momentarily arrested (Scribner 66). Present in this sculpture are three of the five characteristics of Baroque art motion which is a different way of looking at stead and the concept of time. Donatell o and Verrocchio depicted David at rest after he killed Goliath, Michelangelo, presented David before the battle, with the tension and emotion evident in every vein and muscle. Bernini does not depict David before or after the fight. Instead, he shows him in the rocess of the fight. This represents the element of time in his work. The views are forced to complete the action that David has begun for us. With Davids positioning, a new concept of space comes into play. No long-life does the figure remain still in a Classical contrapposto stance, but rather extends into the surrounding space away from a vertical axis. This movement outward from a central core forces the viewer to take into account both the form and the space between and surrounding the forms-in order to appreciate the complete firearm (Fichner- Rathus 360). In order to understand the sculpture fully, we must move around the work.As we move, the views of the work change drastically. As you can see, the works sculpted by Donatello, Verrocchio, Michelangelo and Bernini are drastically very different in there own ways. Donatello presented David as a young boy who seemed incapable and amazed at his feat. Verrocchios David, although an adolescent, appears somewhat older and has more self-confidence than Donatellos David. Michelangelos David has just reached manhood and is capable of great physical feats, like defeating Goliath. Finally, Berninis David is a full grown man. He, like Michelangelos David, also appears to be strong, brave and gifted enough to slaughterGoliath. These four artists were both fearful and spectacular. They each brought something different into the world and even still to this very day we are still in awe over what they created. Donatello, Verrocchio, Michelangelo, and Bernini, four great artists with four very different views on the world. Works Cited Fichner-Rathus, Lois. agreement Art. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey Prentice Hall, Inc, 1995 Italian Master. New York The Muse um of Modern Art, 1940. Meyer, Alfred Gotthold. Donatello. Liepzig Fischer & Wittig, 1904 Scribner, Charles. Gianlorenzo Bernini. New York H. N. Abrams, Publishers, 1991.