Some of the most well-known and historical
sculptures were created by the famous artist, Michelangelo before the 1600s and Frederic Auguste Bartholdi after
the 1600s. Both of these men share similar styles in their most famous
sculptures even though they come from two different periods of art. Michelangelo’s,
David from the Renaissance period and
Bartholdi’s, Statue of Liberty coming
from the late 1880s. However, they ironically send forth opposite cultural
meanings than their own.
Michelangelo’s,
David is a statue of a handsome nude
man representing the biblical hero, David who had slain the beast, Goliath. The
piece is made of marble, stands at 17 feet tall, and was created between 1501 and
1504 during the Renaissance. The statue is a clearly strong and muscular with
the tremendous amount of detail and definition put into his muscle and
veins. He is the physically ideal
perfect man, and hero. In my eyes this piece embodies confidence, strength,
beauty, and triumph. Confidence because of his posture and stature, his head is
slightly tilted upward, and he is standing up straight. Strength, because of
his facial features and bold expression. Beauty because the makeup of the human
body is a beautiful work of art in itself, and David has no flaws. Triumph, due to his legendary heroism in the
defeat of Goliath. Therefore, David
puts forth a message of a more traditional and biblical culture. Michelangelo
also created a sculpture of Moses for the tomb of Pope Julius II. Moses, just like David was made of marble, with the same body structure (that of a
muscular male) and embodies the similar style of an inspiring biblical figure
and/or legend.
Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi of
France created the famous Statue of Liberty
in New York Harbor in Manhattan, New York City. Statue of Liberty was given to America as a gift from the French. She
is a woman dressed in a robe, holding a torch and tablet inscribed with the
date of Americas Declaration of independence, which was inspired by the Greek
goddess of freedom. The Statue of Liberty
is an icon of freedom and independence in the Untied states and is a
welcoming signal to incoming immigrants.
The seven points of her crown represent the seven continents and seven
seas of the world. The Statue of Liberty
reminds us that we are all connected “from sea to shining sea”, we worked hard
to become an independent nation, and feel that everyone should be able to live
the “American Dream” and have the same opportunities that US citizens have. She
is a constant reminder to not take what we have for granted and to be proud of
who we are and what we have achieved. Bartholdi also created, Bartholdi Fountain in Washigton D.C.
which has the similar style of the roman goddess he was inspired by for The Statue of Liberty.
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Michelangelo’s, Moses (1513)
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Michelangelo’s, David. ( 1501-1504)
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| Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi’s, Statue of Liberty (1886) |
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Bartholdi
Fountain (1878) |
