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Donatello
built 388 days ago
Donatello was the son of Nicolo di Betto Bardi, a member of the Florentine Woolcombers Guild, and was born in Florence, probably in 1386. The date is conjectural, since the scanty contemporary records of Donatello's life are contradictory, the earliest documentary reference to the master bearing the date 1406, when a payment is made to him as an independent sculptor. That Donatello was educated in the house of the Martelli family, as stated by Giorgio Vasari, and that he owed to them his introduction to his future friend and patron, Cosimo de' Medici, is very doubtful, in view of the fact that his father had espoused the cause of the Albizzi against the Medici, and was in consequence banished from Florence, where his property was confiscated. It is... certain that Donatello received his first training, according to the custom of the period, in a goldsmith's workshop, and that he worked for a short time in Lorenzo Ghiberti's studio. He was too young to enter the competition for the North Baptistery gates in 1402, from which Ghiberti emerged victorious over Filippo Brunelleschi, Jacopo della Quercia, Nicolo d'Arezzo, and other rivals. When Brunelleschi left Florence in disappointment and went to Rome to study the remains of classic art, he was accompanied by young Donatello.
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Donatello (diminutive of Donato) was the son of Niccolò di Betto Bardi, a Florentine wool carder. It is not known how he began his career, but it seems likely that he learned stone carving from one of the sculptors working for the cathedral of Florence about 1400. Some time between 1404 and 1407 he became a member of the workshop of Lorenzo Ghiberti, a sculptor in bronze who in 1402 had won the competition for the doors of the Florentine baptistery. Donatello's earliest work of which there is certain knowledge, a marble statue of David, shows an artistic debt to Ghiberti, who was then the leading Florentine exponent of International Gothic, a style of graceful, softly curved lines strongly influenced by northern European art. The David, originally intended for the cathedral, was moved in 1416 to the Palazzo Vecchio, the city hall, where it long stood as a civic-patriotic symbol, although from the 16th century on it was eclipsed by the gigantic David of Michelangelo, which served the same purpose. Other of Donatello's early works, still partly Gothic in style, are the impressive seated marble figure of St John the Evangelist for the cathedral façade and a wooden crucifix in the church of Santa Croce.
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Donatello had an immense impact on the art and the artists of the Renaissance. He invented the shallow relief technique. In the shallow relief technique the sculpture seems deep but is actually done on a very shallow plane.
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In the new Mirage Studios and 4Kids Entertainment 2003 animated TV series, Donatello's personality is more akin to his previous comic book incarnation, although he is less of a pacifist. Like usual, he is the genius of the team and builds all the vehicles and gadgetry. He is closest to April O'Neil, who is a scientist like himself; at times, it is hinted that he has romantic feelings towards her, but is afraid to act on them. He is somewhat shy and sensitive, acting less like Leonardo's "second-in-command" than he did in the comic books - although he is probably the most reliable turtle after Leonardo. Despite it being implicitly shown that he is the least skilled fighter of the group (unlike in other versions of TMNT), he does show his abilities as a fighter when the need arises. During the Battle Nexus Tournament, he was the first turtle to be eliminated and admitted that he was an engineer, not a fighter, but he ... jumped to Leo's aid after he had been stricken by enemies.
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In the mean time Donatello explored bronze sculpture. His first work St Louis of Toulouse shows the marks of his gradual change to a more naturalistic approach. This sculpture was highly ornate, and due to the amount of detailing in the draping required a deviation from standard bronze techniques. To combat these problems Donatello developed a unique technique for casting bronze sculptures: first sculpting the figure in clay, then draping clay soaked cloth around the sculpture, allowing the clay to dry, and then making a mold from the results. It was in this manner that Donatello achieved the flowing grace of draping cloth, smooth lines, and polished surface, in his bronze works. Later artists would employ this same technique.
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Michelle Hoell Professor Kranz Humanities 2 16 Nov. 2001 Donatello is known as the most important sculptor of the Early Renaissance. The author, John Pope-Hennessy noted him as “one of the greatest artists who ever lived” (Pope-Hennessy p.11). Donatello was a modest person who was very dedicated to his works. Because of his great dedication, he was able to create so much art in so many different varieties (Poeschke p.5). Donatello’s origins, his accomplishments, and his impact are important aspects to appreciate the sculptor, Donatello. Donatello was born on 1386 in Florence, Italy by the name Donato di Niccolo di Betto Bardi.
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Donatello