Donatello's Bronze DavidDonato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi (c. 1386 – December 13, 1466), better known as Donatello, created two depictions of the hero of the Old Testament, David. It is clear that both Donatello sculptures contained political ideas, as requested by the Medici. The first version commissioned in 1408, made in marble, was a more Gothic depiction of a biblical figure and more typical of Donatello's early work heavily influenced by his teacher Lorenzo Ghiberti. The second version of David, radically different from the previous one, rejects traditional representations with its sensual youth and nudity. The enormous differences in style, pose and placement also gave a different underlying meaning to the statues. The first depiction of David by Donatello (commissioned in 1408) sculpted in marble had very Gothic undertones, the positioning of the legs suggests a classical contrapposto (relaxed position, weight shifted), the figure takes on an elegant Gothic hold which appears to be the influence of Lorenzo Ghiberti. In 1416, the David was ordered to be sent to the Palace of the Signoria of Florence, as he was considered an effective political symbol for Florence as well as a religious hero. The bronze representation of the young hero, which is one of the defining creations of Donatello's work. is the first major nude of the Renaissance. The order for the sculpture came from Cosimo Medici and it was to be created in his court. As the commission was not a public undertaking, it allowed Donatello the "freedom to explore" and artistic maturity. Speculation places the bronze David around the 1440s, but exact dates are unknown. In the following paragraphs, I will delve into the deeper meaning of...... middle of paper ......dici in 1466 and the Pazzi Assassination Conspiracy. Giovanni de' Medici in 1478, but failed to kill Lorenzo de' Medici. According to McHam, the bronze David served as a propaganda tool to present the Medici family as slayers of tyrants, preservers of liberty, and protectors of Florence against enemy threats. whether foreign or native. However, it is important to note that the threats were not aimed at republican values ​​or the freedom of Florence, but rather the "Medici family's hold on power." In conclusion, it might seem to the casual viewer that the meanings behind the Bronze David are the traditional biblical connotations, but after some research it becomes clear that there are deeper layers to consider. Whether a symbol of platonic love or a political symbol for the Medici family, David had/is a greater influence on the Renaissance and subsequent periods.