Unit 1 '' Individual Project Born Donato di Nicolo Bardi, in 1386 and died 1466, in Firenze, Italy, Donatello was an apprentice of Ghiberti, also known for his famous work on the East doors of the Florentine Baptistery. Donatello soon became known as one of the greatest sculptors of the Renaissance Period, in his own right. A man of simple tastes, he had a personality filled with contradictions to this belief about him. He demanded more freedom of expression within his works, than other artists, from those who commissioned his pieces, often resulting in constraints put upon him, disagreements with benefactors and his work going unfinished. From the earlier years of the Renaissance, Donatello’s, Herod's Banquet, a gilt bronze relief panel, created for the baptismal font at the Baptistery, Siena, ca. 1423-27, (Herod's Banquet) shows us his mastery of the historical breakthrough use of linear perspective; this accomplishment by Donatello, connects him to Brunelleschi, the first to incorporate mathematical proportion within his work (Yanni). By creating two courtyard scenes behind the main scene, he effectively enhances the piece by creating an illusion of space (p. 314). During Donatello’s time, much social, political, and religious upheaval was taking place, historically. Artists were being commissioned; including Donatello; to create art using the most prominent figures of the day; the main portion of which were of the family, Medici. Their generous support of all the Arts; was the machine that helped bring to the forefront of their time; the ideals of ancient philosophers, scientists and artists; also known as ‘humanism’ or ‘individualism’ (p. 314). In one of Donatello’s more mature works, the prophet Habakkuk; or Pumpkinhead (The Prophet Habakkuk), lays proof of his never-ending quest to make his portrayals of the human form more natural. In this piece, you will notice, it seems Donatello has stripped away all components of unreality within it. From the...