DAVID –THAT YOU OFTEN MISS
David: We all know the story of David who killed Goliath. We are also familiar with the great statue of David created by no other than Michelangelo…perfectly masculine, determined and decisive look…. His hands, legs- entire body is perfect Male…a pure representation Male body…
But just have look at another David by another master Donatello.
This one is not very common…but it is certainly interesting . Look at the pics of Donatello’s David and I am certain you will be confused —whether you are looking at a Male or a female . Look at his face, the smile, his curly locks….. his buttock, his standing posture , soft, contrapposto position. Look at the way the feather of killed Goliath’s helmet went up touching his inner leg, Look David’s own hat ( typical Florentine hat of that time while David was a character derived from far more ancient time )… Look at the boot that he is wearing on naked body . Also a hat for the matter. All suggestive. All symbolic and …yes revolutionary too …this David was banned for public display for long. Donatello’s’ Bronze David was created long before Michelangelo….sometimes in between 1440-1460..Michalengelo created his Davind in between 1501-1504
Donatello’s David represents , as the term is still being used in France …’Florentine Vice’.. homosexuality. Especially sodomy with young boys ( David was a boy and David as the killer of Philistine Goliath was considered a the main Hero for these early Renaissance period …( Michelangelo was during high renaissance). The hat itself was a subj of attraction for the homosexuals…boy wearing hat was actually used to be considered an invitation…and if one used to touch the hat of the boy ..it was open an invitation for homosexual acts….here the boy’s hat symbolises an attraction for the older ones…yet out of reach ….here the boy ( David) wins…but then ultimately he reflected those Florentine days ..when Florence was abuzz with homosexuals…by the way there is a difference between Donatello David and Michelangelo David.. Donatello’s one is after Goliath killed, Michelangelo before the killing… there is one more David by Andre Verrocchio ..and it believed that his David was modelled after his student ……Leonardo Da Vinci.
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