Michelangelo Buonarroti and Leonardo da Vinci

¶ … art of Michelangelo Buonarroti and Leonardo da Vinci. Specifically, it will discuss Michelangelo's sculpture David, and Da Vinci's painting the Mona Lisa. These two works are some of the most well-known and best-loved works by these two immortal artists. They represent some of the finest artwork they created, and illustrate how they were masters of their craft and communicating their ideas, as well. Their artwork indicates their knowledge of composition, perspective, symbolism, and many other important aspects of great works of art. Studying these two masterpieces can give a true understanding of artistic components and great technique.

Michelangelo was not the first artist to attempt to capture David in sculpture; several other versions came before Michelangelo's beloved statue that still stands today in Florence. However, his is the most powerful and memorable for a number of reasons. First, the statue has a type of innocence about it, even though it is clear David is powerful and ready to take on Goliath. The very size of the statue, which stands nearly 17 feet high, indicates the power and symbolizes David's strength and determination against adversity. David holds his slingshot casually over his shoulder, in fact; it hardly shows in the finished piece. This symbolizes David's wit and grace, which he used to topple Goliath, rather than simply using brute force. His innocence is depicted by his nudity and his pose, which is not a strong, forceful pose but is rather pensive, as if he is contemplating the impending fight. He is truly larger than life and heroic, and yet very human at the same time. Michelangelo's version of David is also very unique, because the other versions show David triumphant after beating Goliath, while Michelangelo's version shows David before the battle, when he is still unsure of himself and his abilities. It makes the piece stronger by making the subject more vulnerable and human. The perspective of the piece is larger than life, but because it is a sculpture, every angle and facet of David is open to view, making him vulnerable and heroic at the same time.

It is clear by the time Michelangelo created this work (from 1501 to 1504) he had honed his craft. The piece is extremely well crafted, showing a good understanding of the human form and physique. David is an ideal man, with a pleasing form, just the right amount of musculature, and kind, youthful features. Michelangelo is adept at communicating his ideas through his work, and David is no exception. The figure exudes strength, but youthful insecurity as well, along with grace and natural beauty. As one art critic notes, "The result looks natural, a unified pose rather than an accumulation of observed details. It is, however, an artifact, a simulation of nature" (Hibbard, 1985, p. 56). Michelangelo's work is just as memorable as Da Vinci's is, because both men combine many artistic elements in their works to make them seem real and alive to the viewer.

Da Vinci's Mona Lisa has been the subject of films, conjecture, and speculation throughout the ages. Who is Mona Lisa and why is she smiling that small but intriguing smile? Another art critic notes, "The treatment of the mouth, upturned at the ends, makes the subject seem quizzical and curious. Legend has it that Leonardo had musicians present at all times to sustain the peculiar mood of his subject" (Kent, 1939, p. 24). Many artistic techniques make up the Mona Lisa, and it is perhaps the best representation of sfumato available today. Sfumato uses many layers of translucent color to create form and depth in a work, and Da Vinci used this technique in the Mona Lisa, especially around the eyes and mouth. Many people believe it is the sfumato that gives the illusion of a smile around her mouth. The perspective of the piece is enhanced by the pastoral background that gives a clue to her life and her situation. She is a beautiful but mysterious figure, and Da Vinci creates her bathed in shadow and light to subtly indicate her mystery. She is elegant, serene, and seems to represent the perfect woman in Renaissance times. Her slight smile symbolizes there is more to her than just a pretty face, but her serene expression seems to show that she is completely comfortable in her surroundings and life. The painting's small size surprises many viewers, and yet, the woman seems larger than life, even though she is actually smaller than life. The colors of the painting are muted and subdued, which was common at the time.