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David and the Old Testament

David was one of the most popular Old Testament figures represented in the art of Christian Europe. His well-known life included many events that were easily recognized and took on a variety of symbolic meanings. One of the most common ways of presenting David was in his role as the young killer of the giant Goliath. But even this one portion of David's story could have different forms and meanings. A comparison of four Italian Renaissance sculptures of David demonstrates four very different approaches to the subject. The sculptures are Michelangelo's marble David (1504), Donatello's bronze David (c. 1430), another bronze by Andrea del Verrocchio (c. 1470), and Gianlorenzo Bernini's marble version (1624). Over the span of two centuries it is possible to see the evolution of stylistic approaches in these four statues along with the variations in the artists' use of David as a symbol.

The Biblical David began as a mere shepherd boy and ended as the king who made Israel into a unified kingdom. There were many legends that surrounded "this complex and many-sided personality," and most of them were used in some way in Christian art (Hall 92). David made Jerusalem Israel's capital, he was a musician who was credited with writing the Psalms, and as a young boy he killed Goliath. In the Biblical account David's older brothers were in the army, but he was too young and was left behind to tend the family's sheep. David went to take food to his brothers and, seeing that everyone else was afraid, went out to face Goliath, the champion of the Philistine army, without armor. When Goliath saw David "he disdained him; for he was but a youth ruddy and comely in appearance" (1 Sam 17.42). But David was armed with a sling and, after striking Goliath down, took away his sword and cut off his head. The Israelite army chased the frightened Philistines and won the battle. David, who was from Bethlehem, became king many years later and the ...

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David and the Old Testament. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 20:45, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1708099.html