The Beauty of David
Introduction
People are always interested in everything that surrounds them, from the colossal facts and innovations to each insignificant phenomenon and datum. The desire to find answers to all mysteries and secrets of the world is, perhaps, laid in humans’ nature. There is nothing more interesting than the exploration of the ancient history and finding out the culture and walks of life of the distant ancestors.
Italy as home of the Roman Empire and the main center of the Renaissance, presents the perfect example of the unique culture that has flourished for centuries. It got the status of the forefront of western civilisation before the birth of Christ. Since that time it began to have a great impact on the development of Europe and the rest of the world in almost every aspect of art and culture and continues to have it till now.
The Beauty Of David
There are a lot of countries with rather interesting history and great culture. However, the country with the most rich and diverse culture and the most fascinating history is definitely Italy. This is a land of remarkable collections of art, unique culture and literature from many different periods. Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country in the world and is known for its broad universal cultural influence. Italians consider a country that does not appreciate art in all its forms a country with no soul.
Throughout the history, a lot of outstanding artists from celebrated sculptors, prominent painters, talented musicians to notable architects have come exactly from Italy. The most famous Renaissance Art that is a vitally important part of modern art was born in Florence, Italy and then spread throughout all of Italy and Europe. The country was also the home to two of the most illustrious painters of all time Michelangelo and Leonardo de Vinci.
Speaking about music, Italy was characterized by a strong musical influence on the worldwide culture too. The ballet and opera were both created in Italy, as well as many musical instruments such as the violin, cello and piano. If you are the ardent lover of architecture, Italy will be the perfect place to discover the greatest legacy of history and culture that has impacted directly or indirectly on the history and the culture around the world. There are many famous buildings here including the Coliseum, the Forum, and the Pantheon that even modern architects are still attempting to figure out how they were built. Thus, to understand all the secrets and beauty of modern art, it is necessary to visit Italy and indulge in its outlandish culture.
During its long and colourful history Italy has produced a tremendous heritage of monuments, paintings, music and specific movements. One of the most significant Italian works of art is definitely Michelangelo’s sculpture of David. Within two hundred years four Italians created completely different statues of David, but each of them managed to become a well-known masterpiece. First there appeared Donatello’s sculpture, then Verrocchio's, followed by Michelangelo's, and finally that of Bernini. Though each of four sculptors succeeded in realizing their objects while creating David, Michelangelo's portrayal was the most revolutionary one (Paolucci 32).
Long before the Renaissance period the whole universe was divided into two opposed spheres. The first one was the kingdom of divine perfection, truth and happiness. The second sphere accordingly, was the dark world of shortcomings, tribulation and deception. The humanity for its crime of Original Sin was at that time considered to be helpless and miscognizant creatures who had submissively to serve God and his earth spokesmen.
According to the leading Christian of the time, Saint Augustine, man was believed to be “crooked and sordid, bespotted and ulcerous” (St. Augustine 84). As a result, all medieval painters depicted man as a defaced beast that was calling loudly for the salvation of his soul. Jesus Christ, on the contrary, was a true ideal for any human being. He was portrayed as a gory, beaten and crucified man who sacrificed his own life for the redemption of the mankind from whom at the same time he had to suffer a violent death.
The rebirth of man’s life on earth has come with the beginning of the Renaissance. Since that time man’s mind was considered to be capable of comprehending the universe. Humans were no longer just tortured souls bagged in a crippled bodily prison, but, on the contrary, beautiful and rational heroes who deserved happiness and were able to achieve success. According to the Renaissance view, there was no need for the man to sue for a favour or humbly beg for salvation. He could easily overtake various challenges along the way, as well as pursue his purpose, fight for victory or even kill a giant.
This Renaissance sense of life is best expressed in Michelangelo's David. The sculpture was based on the story of young shepherd boy who was not afraid to struggle with much stronger opponent in order to rescue his people from the enemy’s incursion. Relying solely on his superior skill and courage and using sling as his only weapon, David managed to defeat Goliath. The man’s veins could be seen in his arms and hands as squeezed the stones with one hand and the slingshot in the other.
While others sculptors depicted David after the battle, for example, standing on the disjoined head of the smitten Goliath, Michelangelo preferred to portray another kind of victory. It was that point of time that preceded victory, the moment between conscious choice and conscious action (Paolucci 61). The individual had to make a decision and act according to the accepted choice. Michelangelo’s David stands with furrowed brow and is looking around for Goliath. He is not portrayed here a jubilant winner, but as a pensive, determined human being, worth of obtained victory.
The thing is that Michelangelo tended to be very assiduous when creating his sculpture. Only after studying the human form for a long time, the artist started to work at David. He utilized very natural lines which also looked rather gentle, even if his figure seemed to be quite chiselled. Particular attention was paid to shape, which made the whole sculpture even more natural. If looking from the rear, the muscle in the right leg seems a bit bulged out and creates the impression that David is going to walk. Except for David’s hand that is cocked in a very unnatural position everything looks very realistic.
Similarly to the ancient Hellenistic and Roman sculptures who were considered to be masters at persuasively portraying the human anatomy, Michelangelo has also aimed to depict David respectively to the position he occupied. All man’s weight was placed on his right leg, in such way leaving his left leg at complete rest. Due to this, David’s hips had moved a little bit, making one side slightly higher than the other. Consequently, David’s spine and midsection had to curve, as well as his right shoulder fell out gently below his left one.
In spite of the fact that the sculpture stood more than 14 feet tall, Michelangelo succeeded in holding all extremities and did his best in keeping the head and body in proportion to one another (Paolucci 35). In addition, the texture of the work is just fabulous. Though it is always rather difficult to reach the proper texture for teeth or hair, the artist achieved great results almost facile and impeccable. The hair seems almost alive and the skin is created in so sleek texture, but at the same time does not look fraud.
The first time I saw the sculpture, I was very fascinated. Everything seemed so natural and realistic that I could not admire it sufficiently. Though the worth throughout the sculpture is the same, it can be easily modified with the use of light, which will give David different values thanks to shadows (Paolucci 43). One of the biggest interests presented to me the head. It in fact required much effort to create the body of such realistic shape, but the head demanded even harder work and extra care. This marble sculpture would always remain in my memories as the best example of the perfectly linked unity and skilful masterpiece that is really difficult to appreciate with dignity.
Like most countries, Italian culture is rather distinctive and deserves to be analysed in details. When people talk about culture they usually mean the customs, mores, traditions and creative pursuits of a country or region that distinguish it from other countries (Hooper 14). Speaking about Italian culture, the most important aspects of it would be family life, various festivals and celebrations, community environment, as well as economic and political factors.
Most Italians used to maintain friendly relationships with their neighbours and friends, as well as show amiability towards people from the same area or region. Italy is a country, where people used to place family on the first place. Life here is centred around the family unit which always consists of a range of relatives from grandparents to aunts, uncles and cousins. Contrary to the west’s idea of the nuclear family that includes only the mother, the father and children, Italian family solidarity depends exclusively on the extended family (Kertzer & Saller 19).
Moreover, it will be relevantly to call Italy a land of contrasts. On the one hand, people here have an incredibly huge sense of kindness and friendliness, as well as an enormous appreciation of every moment of life. It is really difficult to overestimate Italian love for food, wine and good company. On the other hand, one should be, in fact, very silver-tongued to convince a true Italian. Most of them are known to be real lovers of good debate. Finally, if you meet Italian anywhere, they will be easily recognized by their beauty in all its forms and their excessive desire to seek excellence in whatever they do (Hooper 34).
Generally in my experience, Italians proved to be complaisant, well-mannered, attentive and very generous. Each new day they get to know you, they become even more friendly and courteous. Thanks to mild disposition and good nature, life in Italy seems much more carefree and easier. From the very first day in Italy, some amicable attitude towards these cheerful and affable people awoke in my heart and it did not disappear as I began to get familiar with them.
There is definitely something special about all Italians’ nature that is really difficult to put into words. Perhaps it is some kind of warm which makes any stranger feel immediately at home. However, this warm becomes apparent only when one knows an Italian rather well. Sometimes such feeling may even transform into physical closeness and is considered to be one of the most inalienable parts of Italian culture.
Different aspects of Italian culture were clearly represented in its art. Renaissance painters and sculptors as well as Renaissance writers, for example, were attempting to portray people and nature around them in the most realistic way. While medieval architects by their huge cathedrals wanted to emphasize the greatness of God and humiliate the human spirit, Renaissance architects, on the contrary, created such buildings which proportions were taken from the human body (Marianne 81).
Speaking about Michelangelo’s David, it was also somehow influenced by Italian culture. Italians tended to be very friendly people and the artist, as a father of the Renaissance, made an attempt to show that physical, emotional and spiritual strengths of his people in his well-known masterpiece.
In conclusion, Italy is the best place to discover the fascinating culture heritage of all time. Italian works of art are not just a pleasure to the eye, but at the same time the perfect illustration of people’s identity as well as their general way of living. So, do not miss a chance to become the part of the majestic history and visit this amazing country.
Works Cited
Hooper, John. The Italians, Penguin Books; Reprint edition, 2016. Print.
Kertzer, David & Saller, Richard. The Family in Italy from Antiquity to the Present, Yale University Press, 1993. Print.
Paolucci, Antonio. David: Five Hundred Years, Sterling, 2005. Print.
St. Augustine of Hippo. The Confessions Of St. Augustine (Annotated Edition), Jazzybee Verlag, 2012. Print.
