Campare Three Sculptures

Campare Three Sculptures

Donatello, Michelangelo, and Bernini sculpted the 3 most famous David’s of the world. These sculptures were sculpted during different eras.

Donatello’s David was the earliest of the David’s. This outstanding piece is a life size, nude, bronze, statue of David. The statue is representing the scene after David cut off the giant Goliath’s head. His foot is on the severed head in a contropposto stance for a since of movement. He is bearing a sword in his right hand with the rock in the left. The body of this David lacked muscle definition and took on a more youthful and feminine form.

Michelangelo’s David is unarguably a true masterpiece. It was originally commissioned as a statue for public viewing in Florence Cathedral. This David is fully nude and depicts David before battle with Goliath. The face is in a profile position; he has a slingshot in his left hand and a stone in his right hand. David’s face shows intense emotion and focus unlike Donatello and Bernini’s. The stance of the statue is confident. This version of David became a symbol of defense in Florence, unlike the symbolism of Donatello’s. This David also has a contropposto stance. His weight is shifted to give a relaxed confident composure.

Bernini’s David is filled with expression and emotion. His face expresses determination, struggling and strife. Bernini used this S-curve to show movement as David throws the rock. Bernini’s David is the only out the three that is clothed in a robe The rock and slingshot are cocked back ready to throw. His weight is shifted to one side as if to show forward spring motion. Bernini’s David seemed to have focused more on the drama of the story rather than focusing on the heroic defeat like Michelangelo and Donatello. Verrocchio’s displays confidence and implied movement like Michelangelo’s David.