David Notable Religious Events and Figures Often

¶ … David

Notable religious events and figures often serve as the inspiration and subject matter for great works of art across human history and across every culture. Events and notable figures from the Judeo-Christian Bible have inspired a great many of some of the most famous works of art in the Western world. Within the Bible, there are two primary sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament.

One of the many significant figures of the Old Testament is the man David, who was a simple boy who herded sheep, who ultimately led his people and others to triumph over a tyrant warrior, Goliath. David was a young man, armed with a slingshot and brought the vicious leader down. David was quite a popular figure artists depicted during the Renaissance era in the arts, particularly in the area of sculpture. There are three most notable sculptures created in Florence during the Renaissance era. The sculpture created most famously by Michelangelo Buonarotti is a move into the period known as High Renaissance, which the paper will explore forthcoming. The statues of David retain a special connection to the city of Florence as well as to the overall significance to overall art history.

Every era in history and every era or movement in art is not instantaneous. The Renaissance is no exception. The Renaissance era is a movement that grew and flourished gradually over time. The Renaissance period is distinctive from other periods and there are sections within the Renaissance are further distinctive enough to divide the period across time. Each section is characterized by traits such as popular art forms, popular subject matter, such as the Bible and David, by artistic philosophy, and by artistic technique.

Renaissance art can be divided into three periods. The Early Renaissance was the formative period of Renaissance art, during which artistic skill in physical realism and classical composition was developed (see Western Aesthetics). These efforts culminated in the High Renaissance, during which artists reached the apex of classical balance, harmony, and restraint. Then came the Late Renaissance, during which severe classicism was relaxed in order to allow for a measure of complexity and dynamism. A distinct sub-movement of Late Renaissance art was mannerism: the deliberate pursuit of novelty and complexity. In sculpture, the mannerist approach resulted in distorted anatomy (e.g. elongated limbs) and complex postures. (Essential Humanities, 2012)

Michelangelo's David falls into the period of High and/or Late Renaissance. Arguably, Michelangelo's David ushered in the beginning of Late Renaissance. Donatello's David was made into the Early Renaissance. Verrocchio's David is classified as High Renaissance also. All of the most famous statues were commissioned and created in Florence, Italy. Florence is a central location with respect to the Renaissance period generally, but specifically with respect to the field of sculpture and even more specifically with respect to the Biblical figure of David. David is a symbol of the Renaissance and of Florence's contribution to art history and Christianity.

Michelangelo's David is the most well-known statue of David out of the three mentioned within this paper. Michelangelo is well regarded as one of the definitive examples of a Renaissance man and a Renaissance artist. Insight into his character, abilities, and perspective may shed light onto why his statue, above all others is regarded and associated with genius and masterpiece.

The term Renaissance Man has come to mean someone with exceptional skills in a wide range of fields. The description applies to many people during the Renaissance (a period when it is assumed that artistic talent can be easily adapted to differing crafts)…on the artistic side alone, Michelangelo must be the man. He creates works, all of the highest quality, in the four distinct fields of sculpture, painting, architecture and poetry. (History World, 2012)

His version of David, in a way, is an expression of his talents in all four areas of his expertise. His statue is often praised for its aesthetics, geometric proportions, for its romanticism, and more is structure. His version of the statue is a masterpiece because it is an amalgamation of his four strengths. Had he not be a Renaissance man of many talents, perhaps the statue would have reached the heights, fame, and adoration that it still enjoys in the modern period. David was not his final work by the least, but certain it was one of his greatest achievements and greatest exemplars of what Renaissance art & achievement overall.

Michelangelo's David proves to be quite innovative from the other statues and from other forms of Renaissance art.

For Michelangelo David proved to be a defining moment in his artistic career…Michelangelo was only twenty-six years old when he won the contract for David. He began work on Monday September 13th 1501 and it would take him two years to turn the marble block into the iconic image that we know and admire today…Michelangelo's David differs from earlier versions (see the three David's) in that it does not show the severed head of Goliath, instead the artist has depicted the moment before the young shepherd begins his battle with the giant Philistine. (Italian Renaissance-Art.com, 2012)

Therefore one clear difference is the material which Michelangelo used over the other artists. He used marble that was intentionally aged for the purposed of sculpture. The other statues are bronze. Certainly another difference is that Michelangelo composed his work in a new century. The Renaissance period extends over a portion of the 15th and the 16th centuries. As those of us who have lived in the 20th and 21st centuries can attest to, every aspect of culture changes when the times change, even within the same movement, art form, organization, country, culture, even economic systems such as capitalism. David is shown alone in a relaxed pose without Goliath's head in Michelangelo's version. This moves the focus less upon the famous deed David is known for and more upon the man David and all he represented including as well as outside of his triumphant moment over Goliath. Furthermore, of the three veresions, Michelangelo's took the longest duration of time to compose. This meticulous attention to detail and craft additionally distinguishes this version from the other great versions of the statue.