Drawing a History from the Great Sculptors of the Renaissance

What does the word Renaissance mean? Its definition correspondingly refers to the term “rebirth” and the reason why this time in history was called as such is because art historians found out that society during this period re-submerged itself in the classical and secular undertakings that were done away with in the past. Renaissance sculptures reflected mainly on classical antiquity, giving rise to many master such as Donatello di Niccolò di Betto Bardi (Donatello’s real name) and Andrea del Verrocchio. Both of these men were Florentine artists. Donatello’s prime masterpiece was the sculpture of David. Standing at five feet tall in solid bronze, he made it for the Medici family of Italy’s famous history. The sculpture was later erected at the Palazzo Medici as the first human-sized nude sculpture piece since Antiquity. Verrocchio, for his part, was an accomplished painter and sculptor whose works certainly rivaled the great Donatello. He was made even more famous however, for being the teacher of another young artist we all know- Leonardo De Vinci.

Growing from the area of Florence, Italy in the 15^th century, the Renaissance movement extended on to the north, reaching the Alps during the early 16^th century. There was a huge desire to move beyond the old ways of thinking and drive art back into the high standards of Greek and Roman art.

Common subjects during the Renaissance period (aside from religious art) were young greek male figures, nude and proportioned to proper anatomical perspective. Other artists also deviated and turned to human emotion and/or suffering as a prime subject for depicting sculpture, such are some works by Michelangelo- “Young Slave, for the tomb of Julius II” made in 1520 at Florence, and “Prisoner”; a sculpture thought to be depicting the titan Atlas, which was also made for the tomb of Julius II.

Philosophy played a significant role in the development of humanism as a way of viewing artistic endeavors. The subject selection at the time prioritized human beings and human life over other important aspects such as religion. This type of art placed man at the center focus of things.