Donatello Got There First

[poliphilo]

I liked this too, but feel bound to point out that Michelangelo- for all his obsession with dicks- wasn't actually the first renaissance artist to create an undraped, free-standing, male nude. That honour goes to Donatello. Interestingly- given the controversy that Michelangelo's statue allegedly caused when first unveiled-  there is no record of  Donatello's lissome, boyish, late Gothic David- which had been on open display in the same city for generations-  ever causing any kind of a stir. 

I suppose Donatello got edited out because he impedes narrative flow. His David was a one off, leading to nothing in particular- and it makes a better story to have brawny, art-heroical  Michelangelo (whom everyone has heard of) crash the taboo without forerunners.  

Comments

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I've always preferred Donatello's, which seems much more in the spirit of the Bible story anyway. (Who'd be surprised that Michelangelo's hunk got the better of Goliath?)

I suppose I have to ask, though - can you be nude in a hat?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Michelangelo's David leaves me cold- it has inspired too much artistic drek- from Soviet realism to Stan Lee.

Donatello, on the other hand, makes me question my heterosexuality. That hat is an act of provocation.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Now I look closely, he's also wearing greaves. He's practically fully-dressed!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Greaves? I thought those were kinky boots.