David, Michelangelo Flashcards
Subject
Old Testament hero David killing the giant Goliath.
Size and scale:
Over life-size, (17.0ft)tall.
Influence of the Renaissance style:
The statue is a Renaissance interpretation of a common ancient Greek theme of the standingheroic male nude.
Proportions:
The figure has an unusually large head and hands, perhaps due to the fact that the statue was originally intended to be placed on the cathedral roofline, where the important parts of the sculpture may have been accentuated in order to be visible from below.
Moment in the narrative:
Instead of being shown victorious over a foe much larger than he, David looks tense and ready for battle after he has made the decision to fight Goliath but before the battle has actually taken place. His brow is drawn, his neck tense, and the veins bulge out of his lowered right hand.
David’s gaze:
Fixated towardsRome with a warning glare. For many Florentintes, the statue symbolised the defence of civil liberties embodied in theRepublic of Florence, an independentcity-statethreatened on all sides by more powerful rival states.
Lack of obvious weapon and armour e.g. sword/helmet:
The slingshot he carries over his shoulder is almost invisible, emphasizing thatDavid’s victory was one of cleverness, not sheer force.He transmits exceptionalself-confidenceandconcentration, both values of the “thinking man”, considered perfection during the Renaissance.
Michelangelo’s choice to omit Goliath’s head:
No earlier Florentine artist had omitted the giant altogether. Verrocchio,GhibertiandDonatelloall depicted their own version of David standing over Goliath’s severed head.
Comparison with Donatello’s David:
Much larger than Donatello’s version. Michelangeloshows the moment beforeDavidslays Goliath, whereDonatelloshows a scene after the battle. Whereas Donatello’s youthful David defeated Goliath with strength from God, Michelangelo’s David used cunning and prowess – demonstrating the influence of Humanism.
Florentine disegno:
The Florentine disegno quality coined by Vasari is evident in the clear contour lines and emphasis on David’s anatomy.
Symbol of Florence:
In the biblical narrative, David - the underdog – defeats his enemy with God’s help. The Florentine people identified with David because they believed that like him, they had divine protection that prevented them from rival city states such as Rome.
Location(s):
Commissioned to decorate the outside of Florence Cathedral (40ft) above street level. However it was later decided that the sculpture would be placed outside the Palazzo della Signoria (the seat of government). Its placement changed the meaning of the statue from a religious to a political one.
Symbol of Florence:
The Medici family, who had been the de facto rulers of the Florentine republic for many years, had recently been exiled (1494), and Florence saw itself as a free city once again, threatened on all sides by wealthy and powerful rivals. David became the Florentine symbol of heroic resistance against overwhelming odds.
Renewed interest in the classical past:
The remains of Greco-Roman antiquity—coins,gems,sculpture,buildings, and the classics ofGreek and Latin literature, prompted Renaissance artists to return to the classical model. Particularly seen here in Michelangelo’s use of the contrapposto stance and interest in human anatomy.
The role of guilds in cinquecento Florence:
The major guilds of Florence had considerable power and were often responsible for maintaining and developing the city’s major public buildings. Not only did this assert the authority of the guild, but it also celebrated Florence’s artistic supremacy over rival city states.
