Art

The artwork to be compared and contrasted will be the different renditions of the Statue of David by Michelangelo and by Donatello.

The most obvious similarities between the two creations are that they are both statues of the Israelite King David and that they are both naked. A less obvious similarity is that they both were created in the ideal of Renaissance sculptors who subscribe to the naturalism of their creations. Both statues are also standing on one leg in a classical stance that creates a diagonal line throughout the body.

In contrasting them, though they are both considered to be Renaissance art, they are from different periods. Donatellos David is from the Early Renaissance, which only shows the beginning of naturalism, but Michelangelos show the High Renaissance. Another difference is seen in the obvious difference that Donatellos David, while nude, is wearing a hat with laurels and boots. This difference is depicted in the more feminine representation of Donatellos sculpture as opposed to the supremely masculine version by Michelangelo. Moreover, the depictions of David are from the different stages of his fight with Goliath Michelangelos show before the fight (without any of the tools and weapons he was depicted carrying in the Bible) and Donatellos is after (as seen in Goliaths head at his feet with a sword in hand). Another obvious difference is the direction David is facing, Donatellos is looking down with his expression less obvious, and Michelangelos is looking up with a very content face.