Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi was an Italian sculptor, born and raised in Florence, that is better known as Donatello and had a major role to play in the growth of Renaissance art. Having studied classical sculptures in his younger days, he began making his beautiful creations from the ripe young age of 16. He continued to work and develop his unique and stunning style of sculpting.
With his skill at working with a wide variety of materials, including bronze, clay, wax, stone, wood and many others, Donatello was commissioned to create many notable works and made major contributions to the development of Renaissance art. His work has been on display among those of numerous other notable Renaissance artists, like Leonardo Da Vinci and Sandro Botticelli. Here are 20 magnificent masterpieces, forged by the hands of this great artist.
1. Lo Zuccone, now housed in the Museo dell' Opera del Duomo, Florence, Italy
(By Donatello, Wikimedia Commons)
2. The Feast of Herod, now on the baptistry of the Siena Cathedral in Italy
(By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
3. The Tomb of Cardinal Rainaldo Brancacci, now at the Sant'Angelo a Nilo in Italy
(By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
4. The "Assumption of the Virgin", on the Tomb of Cardinal Rainaldo Brancacci
(By Donatello, Wikimedia Commons)
5. Basilica del Santo Crucifix, now placed on the high altar of the basilica di Sant'Antonio da Padova in Padua, in Northern Italy
(Copy at the Pushkin Museum, Moscow, By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
6. The Baptism of Christ, now at the Arezzo Cathedral
(By Donatello, Wikimedia Commons)
7. Judith and Holofernes, now at the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
(By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
8. The Marzocco, the heraldic lion and a symbol of Florence, now housed in the Piazza della Signoria
(By RicciSpeziari, Wikimedia Commons)
9. David, now housed in the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence
(By Donatello, Wikimedia Commons)
10. The Madonna and Child, now housed in the Louvre
(By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
11. The Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata, now located in the Piazza del Santo in Padua, Italy,
12. The Penitent Magdalene, now on display in the Museo dell' Opera del Duomo in Florence
(By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
13. The San Rossore Reliquary, now in Florence’s Museo Nazionale di San Matteo
(By Donatello, Wikimedia Commons)
14. Virgin and Child with Four Angels, now found in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
(By VAwebteam, Wikimedia Commons)
15. St George, now in the Bargello Museum, Florence
(By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
16. The Santa Croce Crucifix, now in the Cappella Bardi di Vernio, Florence, Italy
(By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
17. The Tomb of Antipope John XXIII, in the Florence Baptistry
18. The Pazzi Madonna, now at the Bode-Museum, Berlin
(By Donatello, Wikimedia Commons)
19. Saint Louis of Toulouse, in the Museo di Santa Croce, Florence
(By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
20. The Piot Madonna, now in the Louvre
(By Donatello, Wikimedia Commons)
The Life and Works of Walt Whitman, an American Symbol
Today, we are looking into the biography of this extraordinary man, drawing wisdom from a selection of his quotes.
There’s a Side to Michelangelo’s Artwork You’ve Never Seen
Take a look at the work of artist Michelangelo, beyond the Sistine Chapel and the statue of David, and created by him over 70 years.
Admire the Talent of the World’s Top 15 Ballet Dancers
Ballet is one of the most delicate and elegant dance styles to watch, as proven by these 15 talented dancers...
Henri Matisse: King of the Wild Artists Movement
Henri Matisse has a place in the Hall of Fame of avant-garde art. This article tries to explore why.
This Artist Recreated the Parthenon Using Banned Books
The artist Marta Minujin created the Parthenon of Books - a life-sized replica of the Greek Parthenon made of 10,000 banned books.
David vs. David: Comparing Two Classic Sculptures
Examining two sculptures by two distinct and famous artists: Donatello and Michelangelo
Listen to a Stunning Rendition of Vittorio Monti's Csárdás
Neapolitan composer Vittorio Monti is most well-known for his beautiful composition Csárdás. Listen to this wonderful rendition by violinist David Garrett.
Surprising Video: When a Little Coin Goes a Long Way...
This beautiful video shows how a little girl invested the best coin of her life.
This Man Took an Ordinary Tree Stump and Transformed It...
This simple stump will transform in front of your eyes into beautiful art. This has got to be seen to be believed!
WATCH: This Magician Will Leave You Utterly Speechless...
Kevin James is considered to be one of the best magicians in the entire world, and this evidenced by his Best Comedy Magician victory at the World magic Awards.
25 Breathtaking Buildings That Deserve More Attention
If you’ve never seen these breathtaking buildings, you're seriously missing out!
See Andre Rieu Make Musical History With 'You Raise Me Up'
Watch in amazement as the legendary musician, André Rieu, performs an outstanding rendition of 'You Raise Me Up' alongside the Johann Strauss Orchestra.
This Man's Miniature Version of Paris Will Blow You Away
Gerard Brion has to be one of the best miniaturists in the entire world. Take a look at his amazing recreation of Paris to see for yourself.
Watch an Amazing Performance of Andre Rieu's 'Think of Me'
If you're as big a fan of The Phantom of the Opera as I am, then you're absolutely going to love this harmonious version of the classic song, Think of Me.
These Realistic Paintings Open Up a World of Beauty
American artist Harry McCormick captures the beauty of interior scenes with his striking realist paintings.
This Stunning Artwork Shows the Charm of Rustic Italy
These beautiful paintings by Italian painter Eugene de Blaas are as elegant as they come
An Amazing Cover of Bocelli's Well-Known Masterpiece
An audition from the German talent show, "The Voice Kids" - this young girl has more talent than many grown-up opera divas!
22 Thought Provoking Winners of Budapest Foto Awards
The Budapest International Foto Awards just published their winners, and the photographs are so thought-provoking and unique, they truly speak for themselves.
Wow! Who Knew Driftwood Could be Turned into Such Beauty?
Debra Bernier is a talented artist from Victoria, Canada. She uses natural materials, such as driftwood, shells, and clay to create mesmerizing sculptures.
The Revolutions That Sparked These 5 Famous Paintings
These 5 famous works of art were sparked by different revolutions and tell absolutely fascinating histories.
This Incredible Art Is Not Painted on an Ordinary Canvas
This art is not painted on an ordinary canvas. Take a look.
Exploring 10 of the Most Famous Renaissance Paintings
The Renaissance period had some of the greatest artists in history. Here are ten of the most famous paintings from this period.
16 thought-provoking illustrations by John Holcroft
Artist John Holcroft creates thought-provoking illustrations with important messages.
These Stunning Oil Paintings Show the Brooding Side of Cities
This artist uses various oil painting techniques to produce stunning, atmospheric representations of modern cities.
These Four Give a New Meaning to Pole Dancing!
The dance group AIRFOOTWORKS performed their act in the quarterfinals of America's Got Talent, with all four of them dancing on poles...
This Spanish Painter Changed the World With His Art
Pablo Picasso's paintings contributed significantly to the development of art, as can be seen in these paintings from different periods.
These Realistic Works of Art are Made with a Ballpoint Pen
Take a look at Andrey Poletaev's stunning ballpoint pen art.
The Story of the Most Mysterious Book Ever
The most mysterious book in the world has beautiful illustrations - but no one can figure out what it says!
Want to Paint? Here's a Complete Guide For Taking it Up!
Ever wanted to take up painting as a hobby, but had no clue where to begin? This complete guide to painting and drawing will answer all your questions.
Some Musical Pieces Just Blow You Away
What a beautiful and touching performance. This song will remain with you for a long time, and may even bring a tear to your eye.
10 Jawdropping Artisan Cakes Inspired by Classic Art
When it comes to confectionery art, it just doesn’t get more luxurious and beautiful than the artisan cakes of Los Angeles based artist, Julie Simon.
Only Michelangelo Can Turn Marble into a Masterpiece
There's no task quite as painstaking as sculpting an image that can come to life. These are some statues created by the genius Michelangelo
This Artist Uses Fruit and Veggies to Create Stunning Art
Witness the wonderful sculptures of Takehiro Kishimoto, who sculpts in fruit and vegetables.
These Gorgeous Paintings Are the Soul of the Victorian Era
The Pre-Raphaelites were a close-knit group of Victorian painters who shared big ideas about art and literature. Here are 18 of their greatest works.
This Artist Puts Her Unique Spin on Old Masters’ Art
Many artists are inspired by Renaissance art, but this Maria Vasilyeva's take on it is truly awe-inspiring.
Such Meticulous, Beautiful Paper Art Is Such a Treat To See
The incredibly detailed and stunning paper art of Maude White.
This Chinese Wushu Mass Performance is Absolutely Awesome
It's Spring festival 2019, and in China they are doing an incredible Wushu Shaolin performance.
Lord of the Dance Performance With Michael Flatley!
This step dance performance by Michael Flatley and Lord of the Dance is beyond beautiful!
These Fish Photos Are Unlike Anything I've Ever Seen
Have you ever seen such stunning fish? This photographer captures the beauty of Siamese fighting fish.
What a Musical Extravaganza! A Concert of Sublime Variety
I adore music, all of it. So I couldn't believe my ears when I heard this talented cello duo wow an audience with classical, film, pop and rock music.
The Art of Szilajka Erzsebet Uses Only Pebbles to Make Us!
Szilajka Erzsebet is an artist from Hungary who is inspired by the beauty of nature and uses pebbles to assemble stunning scenes.
BTG 2024: Woman Wows Judges and Wins Golden Buzzer
Contestant Sydnie in BGT 2024 wows everyone with her song of 'Tomorrow'.
This Country Music Collaboration Will Blow You Away!
This collaboration of country singers past and present will astound you! This one should definitely not be missed!
Have You Ever Seen a Card Trick as Good as THIS One?
This magician's card tricks will leave you wondering how he managed to pull them off.
10 Oscar-Winning Foreign Movies You Can’t Afford to Miss!
This list has 10 must-see foreign films that were winners of the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film in the past ten years
The Sublime Beauty of Botticelli's Paintings...
Admire the eternal beauty of the paintings of Sandro Botticelli, an Italian Renaissance artist, who had the gift of painting people gracefully.
If You Love Country Music, Hank Williams is Your Man!
If you're a fan of Hank Williams, then you'll definitely want to have a listen to this collection of some of his greatest hits.