The Davids
Term Paper
ARTH 107-800L
Over the course of history, art has grown and evolved. Cave paintings made with berries and ash have evolved into the extremely complex digital pieces of artwork of today. Because of the shear amount of time and amount of amazing artistic talent, there are different takes of the same story. The story in this case is the story of David and the Goliath, done by the artists Donatello and Ghirlandaio. These two artists captured David in his moment of triumph, but even thought the origin for their work is from the same passage, both artists tell a different story. The second take on “David” is done by Donatello, made some time between 1440 -1460. This one is made out of bronze using a “lost-wax …show more content…
obviously the pieces are different mediums, but it goes deeper than that. Donatello’s bronze version is the most controversial. The feminine stance alone is seen by some critics as “sexually suggestive”(3). That being said it can be argued that although his stance could be perceived as feminine, it could be because the other takes of “David” show a much older and more physically developed man. Donatello’s bronze David depicts more accurate depiction from the bible, which is that David was not a man, but a young boy. This would explain the “floaty” stance and the coy smile, that a young cocky boy would have. This can lead us to believe that Donatello did not want to the people view this David as a god or hero, rather he wanted to make a piece of amazing art which would be accurate to the bible story. On the flip side, there is Ghirlandaio’s David. Although His David has a similar stance to Donatello’s, it is not to be viewed in the same manner. His David looks older and has the build of a gown man. Ghirlandaio’s David is to viewed as a Religious and civic symbol. The reason it is viewed as such is because if the inscription, which “proclaims the civic, no less than the religious, import of the monument” (5) Because if the inscription its clear that Ghirlandaio wanted this David to be a symbol. The David is meant to depict that “He is first of all a prophet…of christ’s coming. He is also a civic …show more content…
Obviously they are both of David and have the giants head included in the art work. Donatello’s bronze version is just so unique that its hard to find similarities. That being said, Ghirlandaio’s David is similar to Donatello’s Marble version. Both of these share similarities not only with visual, but also as how David is to be perceived. The biggest similarity of these davids is that they are Men, not boys. It is easy to say because both are muscular and do not have the coy expression. Also both of these David look very regal and heroic based off their stance and
Term Paper
ARTH 107-800L
Over the course of history, art has grown and evolved. Cave paintings made with berries and ash have evolved into the extremely complex digital pieces of artwork of today. Because of the shear amount of time and amount of amazing artistic talent, there are different takes of the same story. The story in this case is the story of David and the Goliath, done by the artists Donatello and Ghirlandaio. These two artists captured David in his moment of triumph, but even thought the origin for their work is from the same passage, both artists tell a different story. The second take on “David” is done by Donatello, made some time between 1440 -1460. This one is made out of bronze using a “lost-wax …show more content…
obviously the pieces are different mediums, but it goes deeper than that. Donatello’s bronze version is the most controversial. The feminine stance alone is seen by some critics as “sexually suggestive”(3). That being said it can be argued that although his stance could be perceived as feminine, it could be because the other takes of “David” show a much older and more physically developed man. Donatello’s bronze David depicts more accurate depiction from the bible, which is that David was not a man, but a young boy. This would explain the “floaty” stance and the coy smile, that a young cocky boy would have. This can lead us to believe that Donatello did not want to the people view this David as a god or hero, rather he wanted to make a piece of amazing art which would be accurate to the bible story. On the flip side, there is Ghirlandaio’s David. Although His David has a similar stance to Donatello’s, it is not to be viewed in the same manner. His David looks older and has the build of a gown man. Ghirlandaio’s David is to viewed as a Religious and civic symbol. The reason it is viewed as such is because if the inscription, which “proclaims the civic, no less than the religious, import of the monument” (5) Because if the inscription its clear that Ghirlandaio wanted this David to be a symbol. The David is meant to depict that “He is first of all a prophet…of christ’s coming. He is also a civic …show more content…
Obviously they are both of David and have the giants head included in the art work. Donatello’s bronze version is just so unique that its hard to find similarities. That being said, Ghirlandaio’s David is similar to Donatello’s Marble version. Both of these share similarities not only with visual, but also as how David is to be perceived. The biggest similarity of these davids is that they are Men, not boys. It is easy to say because both are muscular and do not have the coy expression. Also both of these David look very regal and heroic based off their stance and