Middle ages: historical overview and key periods

¶ … Nature of Art

Probably the most famous creation of Michelangelo is the David statue, the original of which stands in Florence, Italy, but there are countless copies located all around the world. The work is composed of marble, and the color is a weathered gray-white. The perspective and size of the statue is far larger than life, indicating David's religious and spiritual importance in his defeat of Goliath in the bible. He symbolizes victory over evil, and the idealism and ritual of the Catholic Church, which is especially fond of statues and representations of their most important religious symbols. The craft of the work is excellent, detailed, and quite memorable, which is one reason it has endured and been copied so many times, and the communication of the piece is extremely unique. Even though the statue is larger thank life, the facial and body details are startlingly clear and overpowering to the viewer. Other artists have created David, but none has the power and poetry of Michelangelo's masterpiece.

In comparison, Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper is another very famous work that has been translated into everything from jigsaw puzzles to paint-by-number kits. The work is a mural painted on a wall with tempura over a sealing layer of paints, and so the work is not a true fresco, which cannot be altered. Leonardo wanted the ability to change things as he worked, and so he developed this method. The work is another religious work that depicts Christ supping with his disciples and discovering Judas is his betrayer. It is a powerful work that communicates the downfall of Christ by one of his own supporters, and it elicits emotional reactions from many who view it. The composition and color of the work have faded during the ages, and many restoration projects have resulted. However, the power and craft of the work are clear in the facial and clothing details, and even the details of the room, the table and setting, and the view through the windows behind the group. The composition is famous, with Christ at the center of the table, symbolizing his power and leadership, and the other disciples reacting at horror at the news one of them is a traitor. The message is powerful and compelling, and Leonardo did his job very well with this painting.