The World of Art Through Collidescope Eyes: Sculpture & Installation

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.