Donatello

Any visitor to the Bargello Museum in Florence will not easily forget the sight of the beautiful statue of David by Donatello (1386-1466). A boyish nude cast in bronze, he stands in a relaxed Classical pose, his foot calmly resting on the huge severed head of Goliath, and he seems to epitomize the flowering of new life that the Renaissance gave to the visual arts. In this study, the works of the artist are discussed by art historian Charles Avery and sculptors Peter Rockwell, Elisabeth Frink and Henry Moore. They analyse the superb effects achieved by Donatello's inventive techniques and comment on the inspiration they have gained from his work. Among the many examples covered is a beautiful but long-neglected terracotta relief of the Madonna and Child whose authenticity is revealed during the filming of this documentary. Shot on location in Florence, Siena, Venice, Padua and London, this survey brings out both the technical prowess and the expressive range of one of the greatest sculptors of the Italian Renaissance.