After working with Lorenzo and Filippo, Donatello started his own career as a sculptor.

             Donatello"s sculpting career can be divided into three periods where the influences in his work took on different styles. The first or formative years came before 1425, when Donatello used a Gothic influence along with realistic and classical motif. The graceful, softly curved lines of the Gothic style paid tribute to his debt to Ghiberti"s teachings. Donatello"s sculptures which showed this particular style were all created for churches and other large buildings in Florence: "Saint Mark" at the Church of Or San Michele, .

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             "Saint John the Evangelist" at the Opera del Duomo, "Saint George" at the Museo Nazionale, and "Joshua", at the campanile of the cathedral.

             The statue of Saint Mark was commissioned by the Arte del Linaioli (the Guild of Linen Merchants) in 1411. Saint Mark was made for the church of Orsanmichele and kept in its tabernacle until recently when it was restored and removed to be placed in a museum. The statue of Saint Mark is an excellent example of the classical style that Donatello had in the first period of his work. .

             Soon after Donatello finished the work of Saint Mark, he started on Saint John the Evangelist, which he worked on from 1413 through 1415. This statue was paired with the other Evangelists and all were placed together in the tabernacle of the church of Santa Maria del Fiore. In 1587, all of the Evangelist statues, including Saint John, were taken to the Museum of the Opera del Duomo where presently they are still seen today. .

             Another sculpture that demonstrates this first period of Donatello"s work is the sculpture of Saint George. Following the creation of his statue of Saint John, Donatello"s Saint George, commissioned by the Armourer"s .

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             Guild, was sculpted about 1416 and placed in a niche of the north wall in the church of Orsanmichele.