David: Donatello And Michelangelo

“Not what man knows, but what man feels, concerns art. All else is science." (Berenson). Sculpture, like other art forms in Italy, was swayed by the spirit of humanism during the Renaissance. In contrast to medieval sculptures, which was based on religious sentiments, Renaissance sculptures took biblical topics, but focused on the human aspect of the characters involved. One such biblical story of the young David slaying the Philistine giant Goliath with a stone from his sling, served as a heroic inspiration for numerous Renaissance artists. Two of Florence’s most celebrated sculptors Donatello and Michelangelo rendered the same story of David in extremely novel and distinct way.

Being a foremost masterpiece in the Bible, David 's story was a factual account illustrating the fact that Lord intercedes for His people. David was a shepherd, the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse of Israel, and his state was battling the Philistines, including a 9-foot giant named Goliath. No man in Israelite army was willing to confront Goliath besides David. Filled with faith and a passion for God’s name, David, unarmed, slew Goliath with a stone and a sling. Subsequently, he cut off Goliath’s head with the giant’s own sword, resulting in the triumph of Israel. This chronicle eventually led Florence to adopt David as their emblem, a bastion of Republican liberty. David’s strength, courage and vigorous confidence were the characteristics that Florence wanted to project and thus they