Michaelangelo

A detailed Summary of Michaelangelo

I chose to compare Michelangelo's great sculpture of David, and the Exalted Chinese Monk from the Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection, at the Seattle Art Museum. These two share many characteristics, yet they are also very much different from one another. Looking at both of them, they seemed to contrast from each other like black and white. While at the same time they seem to compliment each other.

The high point of Michelangelo's early style is the gigantic (4.34 m/ 14.24 ft) marble David, which he produced between 1501 and 1504, after returning to Florence. The character of David and what he symbolizes, was perfectly in tune with Michelangelo's patriotic feelings. At the time, Florence was going through a difficult period, and its citizens had to be alert and mobilized to confront permanent threats. He used David as a model of heroic courage, in the hope that the Florentines would understand his message. This young Biblical hero demonstrated that inner spiritual strength can prove to be more effective than arms. David's faith in God enabled this young shepherd to overcome Israel's enemies, using a mere sling, which is the only element in the composition enabling us to identify the figure of David.

The differences between the two come mostly in the religious context in which they are created. Both creations are very ornate and detailed sculptures. On David especially there is an obsessive amount of detail expressed throughout his body. We can see the expression on his face, the muscles on his arms and back, and even the tendons and toenails on his feet. The monk is also very detailed, which can be seen in his intricate robe flowing over his body, and also on the startled expression upon his face. However, David seems to contain so much more power than the monk. I believe it is because David is a religious symbol of the one true God above. However, the monk receives his confidence from the false god of Buddha. Therefore, although he looks confidant and poised, it is almost a false sense of security, which we know will fail him in the end. Even though the two sculptures have a lot of similarities stylistically, they differ in the meaning and religious views which they each represent.

I find there are definite comparisons between the two statues. They both have an air of authority and power. David has confidence that God will help him defeat the mighty Goliath. The enlightened monk is extremely confidant because of his spiritual enlightenment. They both have the seasoned look of someone who has had many experiences throughout their lives, shaping their character. Most importantly, both have had some kind of close encounter with their god. As we know from the Bible, God spoke to David and told him to challenge Goliath. The monk is shown at the time, or close to the time of his spiritual enlightenment. So we know that both of them are on a sort of spiritual high, and they both carry confidence from those experiences.

Michelangelo chose to represent David as an athletic, manly character, very concentrated and ready to fight. The extreme tension is evident in his look and in the stone he is holding in his right hand. Eyes watchful, David stands poised to strike. The Old Testament hero is depicted as a nude youth, muscular and alert, looking of into the distance as if he was sizing up the enemy Goliath, whom he had not yet been encountered with. With this statue, Michelangelo proved to his peers that he not only surpassed all modern artists, but also the Greeks and Romans by combining f

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Approximate Word count = 1571
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: People