Why is Michelangelo’s David culturally significant? What does its subject matter, theme or style tell us about the High Renaissance culture that produced it?
The term Renaissance, literally means "rebirth" and is the period in European civilization immediately following the Middle Ages, conventionally held to have been characterized by a surge of interest in classical learning and values. (R.A. Guisepi) The High Renaissance was a period of stability and prosperity in Italy during the 16th Century, lots of great art works were created. Artists started to revive their interest in the classical learning and values of ancient Greece and Rome. (History.com Staff)
Michelangelo’s David is a great example artists were influenced by ancient Greece and Rome art, the sculpture is well proportioned, the athletic body of David and the realistic look. His sculptures reveals the beauty of human body, which is a characteristic expression of Humanism during the High Renaissance period. At that time, people were just extricate from the Middle Ages, which were often referred to as the “Dark Ages”. People started to recognizing the power of human, therefore, praise the beauty of human body is a kind of “renaissance” for ancient Greed art. The importance of human, the power of human, the liberation of ideology were all reflected on the art works people created at that time. …show more content…
Guisepi. “Beginning And Progress Of The Renaissance.” International World History Project. Web Feb. 14, 2016.
· History.com Staff. “Renaissance Art.” History.com. Web Feb.14, 2016.
· Sandstead, Lee. “The Meaning of Michelangelo’s David.” Sandstead.com. Web Feb.14, 2016.
· Earle, James. The many meanings of Michelangelo's Statue of David [Video file]. Retrieved