Have you noticed that the streets of Myville are all named after famous
scientists and artists from the Renaissance? In case these folks aren't
and get to know the person on whose street you're living. If the only Donatello
you have heard of is a teenage mutant ninja turtle, read on... Donatello
was an Italian Renaissance sculptor -- one of the greatest sculptors of
all time and the founder of modern sculpture.
by Lois
Lee
Times
Staff |
Donatello,
whose full name was Donato di Nicolo di Beto Bardi, was born in Florence,
Italy, in 1386. He was the son of Nicolò di Betto Bardi, a wool
comber. Donatello was apprenticed to a goldsmith to learn metal working
and design.
When he was just 17 years old, he helped the sculptor Lorenzo
Ghiberti construct and decorate the bronze doors of the famous baptistery of
San Giovanni, in Florence.
That same year, he and his friend, Filippo Brunelleschi (soon
to be one of the most famous architects of all time), went to Rome, where together they
practiced drawing and excavated antiques.
He soon returned to Florence to continue sculpting. At age 26, he
carved the wooden crucifix in the Church of Santa Croce, which is generally acknowledged
as his first major accomplishment.
Donatello's sculptures are not all in the same style.
One of his early statues, David, was influenced by sculptures he had seen, in what is called Gothic style,
a popular style of the 14th and 15th century that is distinguished by long, graceful forms and decorative details.
David caused quite a stir, because it was the first statue in the Renaissance of a nude person.
His statues of St. Mark and St. John the Evangelist show a change in style.
In these pieces he relied on models and studied the classical Roman sculptures he had excavated in Rome. From
1425 to 1435 Donatello worked with the Florentine sculptor and architect
Michelozzo on a number of projects, including the Monument to
Bartolomeo Aragazzi.
In his later pieces, Donatello style became more dramatic and emotional.
One famous relief shows the battle of St. George and the Dragon. This piece
was also Donatello's first attempt at portraying a three dimensional scene on a
surface that is pretty much flat.
During the next decade, he worked on the famous scene Salome for the Siena baptistery,
which he completed in 1427. He invented a technique known as schiacciato
(shallow relief). This technique gives the appearance of three dimensions
on a flat surface. In demand throughout Italy, Donatello was invited to
Padua in 1443, where he stayed for 10 years as the head of an enormous
workshop.
Pope John XXIII's Tomb
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Donatello always treated his workers and assistants well, and did not mind sharing
his fame. He was considered to be very open and to live a simple life.
He took great pride in his work which would lead him to destroy a
masterpiece with one blow if his modest price was haggled over. He even became friends
with Pope John XXIII. When the Pope died, Donatello designed the pope's
tomb.
Donatello became bedridden in his latter years, and some of his works were completed by
his students. Piero de' Medici, of the famous Medici family who ruled Florence,
supported him. In his last years he worked on the pulpits of San Lorenzo, another famous
church in Florence, creating a series of reliefs. He died on December 13, 1466, when he was
80 years old.
Donatello was one of the most influential sculptors of all times. Most of his sculpture
is in Florence. In the United States, there are two statues: an unfinished
David (National Gall. of Art, Washington, D.C.) and the Shaw Madonna
(Boston
Mus.).
Click here to
learn more about Donatello at
Web
Gallery of Art (Hungary)
Thais
(Italy)
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