Donatello, Judith and Holofernes, c. 1456-1457
Donatello, David, c. 1444-1446,
Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence
Donatello, David, c. 1408-1409,
Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence
You feel the perceptions of earth are almost predetermined before birth, even the sensations of light, colour and sound while you are in the womb would have an influence, let alone your bloodline makeup. It would be interesting to know when we start thinking and perceiving. The difficulty of being in a place where you are misunderstood feels often more about those of a similar bloodline than anything else. The quality of Settignano's stone carving was at a very advanced stage early on and unlike Donatello who feels more emotionally charged, Settignano was more of an intellectual. So, other than Settignano's parentage, upbringing and life experience, you feel you are looking at the work of someone who both had a very refined sensibility and the power to think his way around form. Therefore, some would be learnt, perceived or imagined and the rest cultural knowledge from his bloodline.
Desiderio da Settignano,
The Young Saint John the Baptist,
c. 1450-1453,
Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence
