Andrea Del Castagno - The Youthful David (Essay Sample)

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Andrea Del Castagno - The Youthful David
Andrea, famously known for his work on The Youthful David was an Italian artist/ painter. This masterpiece is believed to have been painted during the 1450s time (Ian 17). First, we will look at the moments captured in the art or as people like to refer to it as the shield. The shape of this art can be said to be extraordinary and it can be explained by the original use of a parade shield (Anderson 23). At the same time, the painted seen is exceptionally rare as most parade shields were known to have the decorations of the coat of arms. It is one of recognized pieces that have been able to survive to present time. It is my belief that the piece could have been used during civil and religious procession (Adkins 18). At the same time, the shield could have been made as a sign of authority for a leader at that time (Anderson 23).
This painting was made over five centuries ago in Florence. This form of paint was not preordained to hang on the wall as it was made of leather that was stretched over a wooden frame (Ian 19). It is therefore truly a shield. At that time the shield were mostly carried to protect a body in the battle but at the same time they were used during festivals (Adkins 21). It is my belief as stated earlier that during one of these festivals a wealthy ruler had commissioned the shield and ended displaying it during the ceremony (Anderson 29). Andrea had studied anatomy and his other forms of art suggest that he liked to paint realistic paintings. This can be seen how he painted David's muscles in the arms and legs. The shield therefore represents dramatic action. During those days, Florence was the center of art in Italy, and it had artist like Andrea, Donatello, and Michelangelo among others (Anderson 35). All these artists created paintings of David to decorate the city. It was the duty of every artist to imagine how David looked, from his hair, face and dressing. From there the artist had to decide on how to tell the story of David.
In the 15th century, the image of David was famous in Florence, as it was the smallest but a major power player in Italy (Ian 21). The image of David therefore symbolized a young person who overcame seemingly insuperable odds and managed to kill Goliath the giant. The Florence city thereby saw the pope, the duke of Milan and the king of Naples as goliaths who needed to be defeated (Anderson 42). Just like other many Renaissance artists, Andrea has been able to present the...