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| Piero della Francesca The Flagellation of Christ (c. 1455-60) |
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| Masaccio The Tribute Money, c.1427 Brancacci Chape, Church of Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence |
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| Brunelleschi, Florence Cathedral 1420-1436 |
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| Fra Angelico The Annunciation, c.1440 wall painting in the Monastery of S. Marco, Florence |
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| Piero della Francesca The Baptism of Christ, 1450 |
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| Paolo Ucello The Battle of San Romano, 1438-1440 |
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| Donatello David c. 1440 - 1460 Bronze |
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| Donatello Herod's Feast 1427 Gilt bronze relief from a font in S. Giovanni, Siena |
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| Sandro Bottecelli The Birth of Venus, 1485 |
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| Masaccio The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise c.1427 Branacci Chapel, Church of Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence |
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| Lorenzo Ghiberti "Gates of Paradise" (East Doors) Baptistry of San Giovanni, Florence |
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| Piero della Francesca Battista Sforza and Federico da Montefeltro c.1474 |
For me, Donatello's 'David' resembles the Greek god Hermes, aka the Roman god Mercury. Like Hermes, this depiction of David is very youthful, more like a boy than a fully mature man; his helmet is similar to the winged helmet worn by Hermes; his ankle sandals are also very similar to the winged sandals worn by Hermes.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Donatello was drawing on Greek mythology for inspiration to portray Christian tales. Greek mythology is more influential to Christian iconography than people may realize.
Masaccio's 'The Tribute Money' almost comes across as a storyboard instead of being a typical painting. You can imagine vertical lines separating this image into thirds - At the far left Peter is by the water, removing a coin from a fish's mouth; in the center Peter is with Jesus and his fellow disciples; at the far right Peter is paying the tax collector.
ReplyDeleteIf visible dialogue was incorporated into the painting, it could pass as a modern comic book.
Although Paolo Uccello's 'The Battle of San Romano' has a serious subject about men fighting to the death, it's perhaps unintentionally humorous.
ReplyDeleteAt the bottom left corner, a soldier who has just died, was gracious enough to fall perfectly in line with the broken lances on the ground which serve to depict Uccello's linear perspective.
Call it being crass, but I can't help but laugh a little when I see this painting.