The real break with mere copying of classical forms and the establishment of the "Classical Ideas and Attitude" toward the human body was established by Donatello. His David was the first life-size "Nude" since antiquity that is wholly free standing and that is truly "Classical". Little is known of the David's history. It appears that it was done for a private commission and probably meant to stand in the center of a garden or pool . Although the figure does not follow classical proportions and muscularity, the figure nevertheless conveys a profoundly classical air, in fact it's down right Hellenistic in it's appeal to the sense. Okay, the hat!... David was a shepherd remember and shepherds during Donatello's time often wore that kind of hat... fashions come and fashions go.
David
c.1428 Bronze
Ht. 5'2 1/4" Museo Nazionale del
Bargello, Florence
Saint Mark
c.1411-13 Marble
Ht.7'10" Orsanmichele, Florence
Saint George
c.1415-16 Marble
Ht. 6'10"
Orsanmichele, Florence
This "classical" attitude of Donatello's didn't just drop on him one morning while he was drinking his third cup of coffee. Donatello hung out with the architect Brunnelleshci.
Brunnelleshci was the driving force behind the Humanist revival in the arts in Florence, in fact he and Donatello took a run down to Rome to check out the ruins. Brunnelleshci wanted to measure some of the old ruins and check out Roman construction techniques.
They were all into this new "classical/humanist" thing. These were the young lions of their day, challenging the traditional value of the society with their new ideas about Humanism. But before we take a look a the others, lets get back to Donatello.
Donatello's St. Mark introduces another innovation, being the first statue since antiquity capable of standing by itself with true classical contrapposto.
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