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Bargello Displays Donatello's Newly Restored Bronze David
After an 18-month long restoration of Donatello’s Bronze David, an inauguration ceremony that unveiled the sculpture was held on November 28 at the Bargello Museum.
The 200,000 euro restoration project began with an x-ray and diagnostic test assessment. Throughout the process technological innovations were necessary. Laser combs were invented to touch up the delicate gold leaf that adorns the sculpture.
The sculpture, depicting David, wearing only a hat and boots, standing with one foot on top of Goliath’s severed head, is closed off to visitors while being worked on with highly sensitive tools.
Arguably the first major work of Renaissance culture, experts speculate that Donatello crafted the Bronze David, in the 1440’s. Some say this sculpture was the first freestanding bronze nude since ancient times, differing from his earlier marble version of 1412 in which David is clothed.
As a teenager, Donatello, the son of a Florentine wool comber, worked in the studio of noted sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti. Later, he traveled to Rome with the famed architect Filippo Brunelleschi to study the monuments of antiquity. Dramatically departing from stylized Gothic art Donatello is credited with kick-starting the Renaissance.
He also anticipated the use of perspective, often thought a painterly invention, which can be seen in his St George and the Dragon on Florence's Orsanmichele church.
Other major Donatello works include a grim prophet popularly called Zuccone (pumpkin) - on Florence's Duomo and an equestrian warlord in Padua called the Gattamelata.
Written By: Michelle Augustine
Florence News - a9.01.02.15.27
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