Dr. James
Introduction to Humanities- MW 1-2:15
31 October 2016
David Sculptures in Different Cultures Cultures express a group of people who share certain values and/or behaviors. Over the years many cultures have developed and adapted to others values. In art, for example, “The human form has always been one of the most important factors in art throughout history” (Rybicki). Two great artists, Michelangelo and Bernini, both sculpted a human form known as David, from the Bible story David and Goliath. Their two David’s are considered two of the greatest works of sculpture known today, and studying them not only uplifts the spirit but educates modern scholars about the value systems of the Renaissance, Michelangelo’s time, and …show more content…
Michelangelo and Bernini both showed, their audience, their vision of David from the story David and Goliath. A contribution to show their audiences their vision is the stance of the sculpture or the positioning of it. The stance, of both sculptures, identifies the two cultures in which they were made; Renaissance and Baroque. In the Renaissance, it sought out to capture the individual as well as the beauty/mystery of the natural world. Beauty was captured by being physically perfect, meaning body structure, this can be seen “In Michelangelo’s version, the human form is unrealistic for the times, and flawless” (Rybicki). Michelangelo made his sculpture of David to look flawless and a person of the highest level of greatness, some might say ‘god-like’. His physique seems to be holding “a certain amount of potential energy that seems to be held back by the stone skin of the sculpture” (Rybicki). His David’s structure seems more athletic than the Bible story seems to lead on; meaning that Michelangelo gave him a more pleasing outlook to the people of this …show more content…
Michelangelo, for instance, has Arte della Lana; while Bernini has two, Pope Paul V and his nephew. Bernini’s father is Pietro, also a sculptor, who was called on by Pope Paul V “to work on the Pauline chapel in Santa Maria Maggiore” (Valiunas). Bernini came with his father and eventually caught the Pope’s eye with his artwork, especially a bust that he made. The pope was impressed to where he helped Bernini get his education and helped him financially. According to Valiuna, an author at Ethics and Public Policy Center, Bernini stayed within the Borghese family and the Pope’s nephew, Cardinal Scipione Borghese, became a patron to Bernini. The Pope’s nephew is the patron of Bernini would help him when he made the David statue. Bernini had two separate members of the same family help him while Michelangelo had a group of people as his patron. According to Uppsala University, Michelangelo’s patron is Arte della Lana; which is a wool guild in Florence during the renaissance. It was very well-known especially since it was one of the seven greater trades in Florence. The guild believed in Michelangelo and saw the statue as a symbol thought to be placed in a high place. It was originally supposed to be “placed high of the façade of Florence Cathedral” (Sayre 228) but was most likely placed in the Piazza della Signoria because it could not have been lifted into place. Both patrons were of higher order during