Donatello (1386–1466)(click images for names and dates)Donato di Niccolo Bardi, called Donatel

Donatello(1386–1466)

(click images for names and dates)

Donato di Niccolo Bardi, called Donatello was an early Renaissance sculptor from Florence Italy. Donatello took a fundamental step toward depicting motion in the human figure by recognizing the principle of weight shift or contrapposto. Greek sculptors in the 5th century were the first to grasp the concept. Donatello reintroduced this concept into Renaissance statuary.  Donatello’s Saint Mark (first image) is the first Renaissance statue whose voluminous robe does not conceal but accentuates the movement of arms, legs, shoulders, and hips. The Bronze David is Donatello’s most famous work. At the time of its creation, it was the first known free-standing nude statue produced since ancient times. The clergy regarded nude statues as both indecent and idolatrous, and nudity in general appeared only rarely in art—and then only in biblical or moralizing contexts, such as the story of Adam and Eve or depictions of sinners in Hell . (x)(x)