Donatello was famous for creating colossal sculptures that were lifelike and filled with deep emotions. 10 Facts That You Don't Know About David by Donatello. His initial training was as a goldsmith, where he apprenticed with Lorenzo Ghiberti, goldsmith and sculptor. Donatello is known as the most important sculptor of the Early Renaissance. Though the exact date of his birth is not known with certainty, he was most likely born in 1386. Why is donatello still important today - 9416581 Dontello was the among the first artists that use realistic human figure as the basis of his scultpure. One of the most significant factors always noticed it was the first free standing nude statue to be made since the classical antiquity that the Renaissance … "David" was the first major Renaissance sculpture and it is also the one of the most important of the period. The marble panel at the base is also an important work of art in its own right. Donatello was a sculptor from Florence, Italy, who became popular for his Renaissance art. Donatello was important to the Renaissance movement as he was the first artist to introduce large sculptures. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline 1. There are many artists when it comes to Florentine Art. Though he was not as popular an artist as Michelangelo, he was noted for his marvelous details in terms of sculptures and statues. In 1408, the artist was tasked to carve a marble statue of David, who was a biblical character that fought courageously against the gigantic Goliath. One noted artist of that era was none other than Donatello (1386-1466). He worked for over ten years there, during which time he gained a following and would go on to have a significant influence on painting and sculpture in the region. In his early years, he worked in Rome with Fillippo Brunelleschi, excavating and studying in the ancient city.. Donatello was a modest person who was very dedicated to his works. Perhaps Donatello’s landmark work – and one of the greatest sculptural works of the early Renaissance – was his bronze statue of David. David is the name given to two sculptures by the early-Renaissance Italian sculptor, Donatello. The work marks an important moment in the development of sculpture because Donatello brought back the ideals of classical sculpture and married them with a new realism, departing boldly from the prior Gothic mannerism. The marble panel at the base is also an important work of art in its own right. The author, John Pope-Hennessy noted him as “one of the greatest artists who ever lived” Pope-Hennessy p. 11. "David" was the first major Renaissance sculpture and it is also the one of the most important of the period. It was by far the most classical of his works. Donatello was the son of Niccolò di Betto Bardi, a Florentine wool carder, and his wife Orsa Bardi. This work signals the return of the nude sculpture in the round figure, and because it was the first such work like this in over a thousand years, it is one of the most important works in the history of western art. In addition to capturing history, these sculptures influenced the works of future Renaissance artists, including Michelangelo.His work later influenced other sculptors, including Michelangelo. Why has Donatello’s Bronze David made such a mark in history? Second to Michelangelo in terms of skills, he is known for his sculptures of David, Mary Magdalene, and the Gattamelata. His father, a restless man with a tumultuous life, was a member of the Wool Combers’ Guild. The lessons that these two artistic giants learned in Rome became important for the future development of Italian art. Facts About Donatello. The earliest and most important of these was the Feast of Herod (1423–27), an intensely dramatic relief with an architectural background that first displayed Donatello’s command of scientific linear perspective, which Brunelleschi had invented only a few years earlier. The most interesting aspect of the sculpture was its free-standing nature. Donatello had been working in Florence for many years before he eventually moved to northern Italy and to the city of Padua, which was under Venetian control at the time. Donatello's father was part of the wool guild Arte della Lana, which was one of seven major guilds in 14 th century Florence. Donatello was one of the greatest Italian artists of the 15th century. Donatello was born in 1386 (most likely) in Florence. Many art historians recognize it as being not only one of Donatello’s most famous pieces but also it was a “supreme expression” the Renaissance spirit. Donatello's Marble Statue of David.