Sculpture – Early/High Renaissance Art
Saint George
Donatello. Combination of classical and Christian iconography
Saint John the Evangelist.
Donatello.
A Prophet
Donatello. Probably Habbakuk.
David
Donatello. Marble
David 1440
Donatello. First life size sculpture in Western Europe to be seen in the round since antiquity.
Gattamelata
Donatello. First larger than life size equestrian sculpture since antiquity
The Aged Magdalen
Donatello. Carved from wood
High Renaissance
Age of individual genius
Artists as genius emerges
Patronage shifting from guilds to wealthy citizens to church
Growing interest of antiquity
Artists as genius emerges
Patronage shifting from guilds to wealthy citizens to church
Growing interest of antiquity
High Renaissance view of humanity
Man became measure of all things
Idealized images of the male and female, often nudes
Portraiture rediscovered
Human figure sculpted in the round.
Idealized images of the male and female, often nudes
Portraiture rediscovered
Human figure sculpted in the round.
St. Proculus
Michelangelo. Thought to be a self portrait of himself young. Prefigures technique of David.
Bacchus
Michelangelo. First important commissioned work in Rome.
Symbolic (lion skin – symbol of death, bunch of grapes – symbol of life, small figure is a satyr, Bacchus is the essence of unregenerate soul trapped in
Symbolic (lion skin – symbol of death, bunch of grapes – symbol of life, small figure is a satyr, Bacchus is the essence of unregenerate soul trapped in
The Pieta 1498 – 1500
Michelangelo. First major religious commission. Housed in St. Peter’s in Rome. Unusual for its high degree of finish. Only work the artists ever signed.
David 1501 – 1504
Michelangelo. Commissioned by the Board of Works. First free standing colossal sculpture since antiquity. Originally intended for the facade of the cathedral.
The Deposition of Christ
Michelangelo. Christ is visibly dead
There is none of the elegant classicism of the St. Peter’s Pieta
The virgin is overcome by grief, without the strength to support the body of her son. Represents Nicodemus.
There is none of the elegant classicism of the St. Peter’s Pieta
The virgin is overcome by grief, without the strength to support the body of her son. Represents Nicodemus.
Rondini Pieta
Michelangelo. His last work, left unfinished. Skeletal, attenuated forms, expressing a deepening faith, his loneliness and profound disillusionment with forms of physical beauty.