Formal Characteristics
Artist: Donatello
Medium: Bronze statue instilled on a high marble base
Year: 1443-1453
Location: Infront of the Church of Sant' Antonio in Padua
Medium: Bronze statue instilled on a high marble base
Year: 1443-1453
Location: Infront of the Church of Sant' Antonio in Padua
Historical Context
Au cours de la Renaissance italienne, les idéaux humanistes se développèrent rapidement. L'humanisme a souligné l'importance de l'individu. Il a essayé de saisir le potentiel de chaque personne et a promu l'idée d'un homme fait soi-même. Cela a permis à quelques familles de devenir extrêmement riches. Aussi pendant la Renaissance italienne, beaucoup de gens ont déménagé de la campagne dans les villes. Le commerce est devenu très important dans les villes et a donné aux entreprises et aux dirigeants politiques la possibilité de devenir très puissant. En conséquence, les parties riches highbred leur propre protection personnelle connue sous le nom condottieri. Condottieri pouvait être employé par une ville-état, un seigneur, ou un pape. Ils ont créé des armées militaires et ont grandement aidé le pouvoir de leurs employeurs. L'augmentation du pouvoir de quelques familles leur a permis de devenir de grands mécènes des arts. Beaucoup d'artistes pendant la Renaissance italienne se sont tournés vers les œuvres d'antiquité classique de la Rome antique. Beaucoup d'artistes s'efforçaient de perfectionner une figure naturaliste dans leurs œuvres. Pour ce faire, les artistes ont accordé une attention particulière aux détails étroits ainsi qu'à la mise au piège de l'œil du téléspectateur. Grâce à une nouvelle technique appelée perspective linéaire, les artistes ont pu développer des arrière-plans tridimensionnels complexes et réalistes sur une page à deux dimensions.
During the Italian Renaissance humanistic ideals grew rapidly. Humanism stressed the importance of the individual. It tried to seize the potential of each person, and it promoted the idea of a self-made man. This allowed for a few families to become extremely wealthy. Also during the Italian Renaissance, many people moved from the countryside into the cities. Commerce became very important within the cities and granted business and political leaders the opportunity to become very powerful. As a result, wealthy parties hired their own personal protection known as condottieri. Condottieri could be employed by a city-state, a lord, or a pope. The increase of power of a few families allowed them to become great patrons of the arts. Many artists during the Italian Renaissance turned to classical antiquity works from Ancient Rome for inspiration, and they strived to perfect naturalistic figures in their pieces. In order to do so, artists paid special attention to detail as well as focused on tricking the viewers eye. Through a new technique called linear perspective, artists were able to develop complex, realistic looking, three dimensional backgrounds on a two dimensional page.
During the Italian Renaissance humanistic ideals grew rapidly. Humanism stressed the importance of the individual. It tried to seize the potential of each person, and it promoted the idea of a self-made man. This allowed for a few families to become extremely wealthy. Also during the Italian Renaissance, many people moved from the countryside into the cities. Commerce became very important within the cities and granted business and political leaders the opportunity to become very powerful. As a result, wealthy parties hired their own personal protection known as condottieri. Condottieri could be employed by a city-state, a lord, or a pope. The increase of power of a few families allowed them to become great patrons of the arts. Many artists during the Italian Renaissance turned to classical antiquity works from Ancient Rome for inspiration, and they strived to perfect naturalistic figures in their pieces. In order to do so, artists paid special attention to detail as well as focused on tricking the viewers eye. Through a new technique called linear perspective, artists were able to develop complex, realistic looking, three dimensional backgrounds on a two dimensional page.
Donatello
Donatello est considéré comme l'un des sculpteurs les plus établis et les plus admirés de la Renaissance italienne. Il est né au cœur de cette réforme culturelle, à Florence, en Italie, vers 1386. Le père de Donatello était un artisan, donc il devint apprenti très jeune. Pendant de nombreuses années, dans sa jeunesse, Donatello a étudié le style gothique. La majorité de son éducation provenait de la maison des Martelli. Les Martelli étaient une famille puissante qui avait des liens étroits avec les Médicis. Ces relations familiales rapprochées ont permis à l'œuvre de Donatello d'être exposée. À l'âge de 20 ans, il recevait déjà des commissions pour une variété d'œuvres. Comme son style a développé il a commencé à créer des figures très passionnées et expressives. À travers beaucoup de ses pièces, Donatello a exploré comment décrire vivement les émotions humaines. Tout en développant son propre style, Donatello a également joué avec le médium de ses pièces. Au cours du processus il a résolu beaucoup de problèmes techniques les divers médias ont posé comprenant la perfection de cire de cire perdue dans le bronze et le marbre sculpté aussi bien que le bois polychromed.
Donatello is regarded as one of the most established and admired sculptors of the Italian Renaissance. He was born in the heart of this cultural reform, Florence, Italy, around 1386. Donatello's father was a craftsmen, so he became an apprentice at a very young age. For many years in his early life, Donatello studied the Gothic style. The majority of his education came from the Martelli's home. The Martelli's were a powerful family that had close ties with the Medici. These close family relations allowed Donatello's artwork to gain exposure. By the time he reached the age of 20, he was already receiving commissions for a variety of works. As his style developed he began to create very passionate and expressive figures. Through many of his pieces, Donatello explored how to vividly depict human emotions. While developing his own distinct style, Donatello also played with the medium of his pieces. During the process he solved many technical problems the various media posed including the perfection of lost wax casting in bronze and carved marble as well as polychromed wood.
Donatello is regarded as one of the most established and admired sculptors of the Italian Renaissance. He was born in the heart of this cultural reform, Florence, Italy, around 1386. Donatello's father was a craftsmen, so he became an apprentice at a very young age. For many years in his early life, Donatello studied the Gothic style. The majority of his education came from the Martelli's home. The Martelli's were a powerful family that had close ties with the Medici. These close family relations allowed Donatello's artwork to gain exposure. By the time he reached the age of 20, he was already receiving commissions for a variety of works. As his style developed he began to create very passionate and expressive figures. Through many of his pieces, Donatello explored how to vividly depict human emotions. While developing his own distinct style, Donatello also played with the medium of his pieces. During the process he solved many technical problems the various media posed including the perfection of lost wax casting in bronze and carved marble as well as polychromed wood.
Equestrian Statue
Erasmo da Narni, souvent appelé Gattamelata, a été un condottieri très réussie. Son surnom s'est développé à partir du nom de sa mère Melanie Gattelli et est traduit pour signifier "Honeyed Cat". Ce général de Padoue commandait l'armée vénitienne. Lui et beaucoup d'autres condottieri réussies sont de grands exemples des occasions pour les hommes faits par soi pendant la Renaissance. Comme la plupart des statues équestres, le cheval symbolise les passions animales et la force brute ainsi que d'honorer le cavalier pour son contrôle physique et intellectuelle démontrée. Donatello fut fortement influencé par la statue équestre de Marc-Aurèle de Rome. Sa grande habileté à exprimer les émotions humaines est cultivée dans la tension du visage de Gattamelata. Gattamelata a l'air d'être prêt et prêt à prendre vie, poussé vers l'avant, et se battre contre toute menace. En même temps, la peau lâche autour de son visage, le cou cuirassé, et les yeux tombants montrent qui a vieilli et fatigué de ses poursuites militaristes.
Erasmo da Narni, often referred to as Gattamelata, was a very successful condottieri. His nickname developed from his mother's name Melanie Gattelli and is translated to mean "Honeyed Cat." This Paduan general commanded the Venetian army. He and many other successful condottieri's are great examples of the opportunities for self-made men during the Renaissance. Like most equestrian statues, the horse is symbolizes animal passion and brute strength as well as honors the horseman for his demonstrated physical and intellectual control. Donatello was greatly influenced by the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius from Rome. His advanced skill in expressing human emotions is cultivated in the tension seen in Gattamelata's face. Gattamelata looks as if he is ready and prepared to come alive, thrust forward, and fight at any threat. At the same time, the loose skin around his face, his leathery neck, and his drooping eyes show that he has grown old and tired from his militaristic pursuits.
Erasmo da Narni, often referred to as Gattamelata, was a very successful condottieri. His nickname developed from his mother's name Melanie Gattelli and is translated to mean "Honeyed Cat." This Paduan general commanded the Venetian army. He and many other successful condottieri's are great examples of the opportunities for self-made men during the Renaissance. Like most equestrian statues, the horse is symbolizes animal passion and brute strength as well as honors the horseman for his demonstrated physical and intellectual control. Donatello was greatly influenced by the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius from Rome. His advanced skill in expressing human emotions is cultivated in the tension seen in Gattamelata's face. Gattamelata looks as if he is ready and prepared to come alive, thrust forward, and fight at any threat. At the same time, the loose skin around his face, his leathery neck, and his drooping eyes show that he has grown old and tired from his militaristic pursuits.
Works Cited
"Donatello." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 19 Aug. 2015. Web. 10 Feb. 2017.
Stokstad, Marilyn, and Michael Watt Cothren. Art History. Boston: Pearson Education, 2014. Print.
Stokstad, Marilyn, and Michael Watt Cothren. Art History. Boston: Pearson Education, 2014. Print.
Brooke Trossen