8David by Donatello (c. 1440s)
Donatello’s David was the first freestanding nude statue since antiquity and marks a significant departure from the Gothic style that preceded the Renaissance. This bronze sculpture, much smaller and more intimate than Michelangelo’s later version, depicts a youthful David standing over the severed head of Goliath. Unlike Michelangelo’s heroic figure, Donatello’s David has a more introspective and contemplative expression. The statue is notable for its sensuality and the soft, almost delicate, handling of the male form, reflecting the humanist interest in individual expression.
