Episode 5: David by Donatello
Italian Masterpieces Rebuilding the Renaissance
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12m
Donatello’s bronze David was the first free-standing nude statue to be made since ancient Roman times. In addition to restoring sculpture to its place alongside architecture, and not simply as ornamentation for it, Donatello also caused quite a ripple in traditional Christian iconography. The eroticism of the sculpture is palpable. Combined with anomalous details such as boots and a hat (for which my students have appropriately nicknamed the statue the Puss in Boots David) the true meaning of the sculpture has eluded people in my business for many years. This lecture will explore the risqué aspects of the statue as well as discussing various theoretical interpretations of its symbolism.
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Episode 7: Birth of Venus by Alessand...
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Episode 8: Last Supper by Leonardo Da...
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