Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata
Artist: Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi
Year Composed: 1453
Artistic Movement: Renaissance
Nationality: Italy
Floor Found in Château: First Garden
Year Composed: 1453
Artistic Movement: Renaissance
Nationality: Italy
Floor Found in Château: First Garden
About the Artwork
The Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata was sculpted by Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi, better known as Donatello. The artwork is a bronze, heroic representation of Italian condottiero of the Venetian Republic, Erasmo of Narni. Almost one and a half decades prior to the sculpture, Erasmo became the podestá of Padua, or the chief magistrate to the city-state which lies within the Republic of Venice. Donatello's sculpture was commissioned to honor the condottiero from Narni, and it currently resides within the Piazza del Santo in Padua, the region that was led by Erasmo. The bronze sculpture exudes a sense of regality and imperialism within the stoic stance of the horse as well as within the powerful body position of the condottiero.
About the Artist
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi was born in Florence, and is better known to the art world as Donatello. He is known for his various Renaissance sculptures, primarily using bronze, clay, marble, and wood. Although he has completed a variety of large-scale sculptures, including his statue of David (1425-1430) and his Judith and Holofernes (1455-1460), Donatello is more known for his bas-relief sculptures (pronounced bah-relief). These are flat panels, typically of bronze or marble that are carved extremely delicately and intricately. The carvings barely come off the surface of the panel, but the artwork shows incredible detail and depth because of the way the light reflects off the detailed carvings. Donatello's most famous bas-relief sculpture is his Feast of Herod (1425). It is noted that his Feast of Herod shows layers upon layers of carvings, making some figures and objects within the panel to appear closer or further away from the viewer depending on how detailed the sculpture and how the light reflects off the bronze material.
About the Movement
Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata was composed in the Renaissance Age of art. The Renaissance Age was a time, mostly known throughout Europe, that occurred during the 14th and 17th Centuries (or between the 1300s and 1600s). It lies between the Middle Ages and the Baroque Age. Literally meaning "rebirth", the Renaissance was a rebirth of Classical antiquity, allowing artists, writers, poets, scholars, scientists, and philosophers to study and pay homage to their ancient ancestors. During this time, artists were known for painting and sculpting works of Greco-Roman mythology or narratives from the Bible that showcased both cultural themes as well as themes of Christianity. Some of the most famous Renaissance artists included Michelangelo Buonarroti, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael Sanzio, and Tiziano Vecello (better known as Titian).
Location of Original Work of Art: Piazza del Santo, Padua, Italy
The Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata was sculpted by Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi, better known as Donatello. The artwork is a bronze, heroic representation of Italian condottiero of the Venetian Republic, Erasmo of Narni. Almost one and a half decades prior to the sculpture, Erasmo became the podestá of Padua, or the chief magistrate to the city-state which lies within the Republic of Venice. Donatello's sculpture was commissioned to honor the condottiero from Narni, and it currently resides within the Piazza del Santo in Padua, the region that was led by Erasmo. The bronze sculpture exudes a sense of regality and imperialism within the stoic stance of the horse as well as within the powerful body position of the condottiero.
About the Artist
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi was born in Florence, and is better known to the art world as Donatello. He is known for his various Renaissance sculptures, primarily using bronze, clay, marble, and wood. Although he has completed a variety of large-scale sculptures, including his statue of David (1425-1430) and his Judith and Holofernes (1455-1460), Donatello is more known for his bas-relief sculptures (pronounced bah-relief). These are flat panels, typically of bronze or marble that are carved extremely delicately and intricately. The carvings barely come off the surface of the panel, but the artwork shows incredible detail and depth because of the way the light reflects off the detailed carvings. Donatello's most famous bas-relief sculpture is his Feast of Herod (1425). It is noted that his Feast of Herod shows layers upon layers of carvings, making some figures and objects within the panel to appear closer or further away from the viewer depending on how detailed the sculpture and how the light reflects off the bronze material.
About the Movement
Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata was composed in the Renaissance Age of art. The Renaissance Age was a time, mostly known throughout Europe, that occurred during the 14th and 17th Centuries (or between the 1300s and 1600s). It lies between the Middle Ages and the Baroque Age. Literally meaning "rebirth", the Renaissance was a rebirth of Classical antiquity, allowing artists, writers, poets, scholars, scientists, and philosophers to study and pay homage to their ancient ancestors. During this time, artists were known for painting and sculpting works of Greco-Roman mythology or narratives from the Bible that showcased both cultural themes as well as themes of Christianity. Some of the most famous Renaissance artists included Michelangelo Buonarroti, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael Sanzio, and Tiziano Vecello (better known as Titian).
Location of Original Work of Art: Piazza del Santo, Padua, Italy