Short Answer Two- Michelangelo's "Pieta" and "David"

What were artists in the High Renaissance regarded as? What ideas did they portray?

Renaissance artists’ status changed from “Crafts People” to “Geniuses” or the “Divine.” Artists were given respect by intellectuals, who are seen as great thinkers, as they portrayed humanist ideas in their work!

What are humanist ideas?

Science, Art, Ethics and even literature.

What does Pieta mean?

A picture or sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Jesus Christ on her lap or in her arms.

What is this piece? When was it made and where? How did Michelango reinvent the work? Can you tell me some important classical elements about the work?

This is the “Pieta.” Completed in 1498 and was commissioned by a French cardinal for his tomb chapel close to Saint Peter’s.

Pieta was more familiar in Northern Europe than in Italy at the time. Michelango reimaniged the work as Mary had never been seen before as calm and transcendent. She had only ever been depicted as tortured or hopeless. Michelango promised to create “The most beautiful work of marble in Rome.”

This is a high Renaissance sculpture and was groundbreaking at the time. Inspired by the classical movement to get the proportions and ratios right. Very naturalistic pose, accurate facial features, drapery and human form. Mary is large enough to support the weight of Jesus. This piece echoes the theme of “Madonna and Child.” Mary looks young- Michelangelo intended her youth to express her virginity. You can see Michelango’s signature carving on Mary’s lash.

Michelango had many talents as artists but what was he first and foremost known as?

Michelango was a great artist, but he was first and formost was a sculptor.

He would of scultuped from larger marble, he claims the forms would show themselves to him. He would stop carving if he saw no form in the block.

What is this piece called and what year? What was it commissioned for?

This is called “David” - 1504. Directors of the works for Florence Cathedral commissioned the work to have a figure be installed on one of the buttresses of the facade. An 18-foot-high block had been partly carved by an ealier sculptor. The statue was moved to be placed in front of the Palazzo del Signoria.,(seat of the Florentine Government). The figure was claimed as an emblem.

How is this sculpture of Michelango’s David portrayed differently from Donatello’s David? - Tell me the differences

Michelango’s David focused on classical features. David has a contrapposto pose and is naturalistic / very muscular. However, his hands are too big. He isn’t seen as a hero but instead as a guardian of the city. This David is nude, and the scale portrays power, too.

Donatello’s David in bronze appears much younger, very slender and less muscular. Less focused on pose/ naturalism. His sword and Goliath’s head shows strenght and David as a hero.