Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi was an Italian sculptor, born and raised in Florence, that is better known as Donatello and had a major role to play in the growth of Renaissance art. Having studied classical sculptures in his younger days, he began making his beautiful creations from the ripe young age of 16. He continued to work and develop his unique and stunning style of sculpting.
With his skill at working with a wide variety of materials, including bronze, clay, wax, stone, wood and many others, Donatello was commissioned to create many notable works and made major contributions to the development of Renaissance art. His work has been on display among those of numerous other notable Renaissance artists, like Leonardo Da Vinci and Sandro Botticelli. Here are 20 magnificent masterpieces, forged by the hands of this great artist.
1. Lo Zuccone, now housed in the Museo dell' Opera del Duomo, Florence, Italy
(By Donatello, Wikimedia Commons)
2. The Feast of Herod, now on the baptistry of the Siena Cathedral in Italy
(By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
3. The Tomb of Cardinal Rainaldo Brancacci, now at the Sant'Angelo a Nilo in Italy
(By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
4. The "Assumption of the Virgin", on the Tomb of Cardinal Rainaldo Brancacci
(By Donatello, Wikimedia Commons)
5. Basilica del Santo Crucifix, now placed on the high altar of the basilica di Sant'Antonio da Padova in Padua, in Northern Italy
(Copy at the Pushkin Museum, Moscow, By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
6. The Baptism of Christ, now at the Arezzo Cathedral
(By Donatello, Wikimedia Commons)
7. Judith and Holofernes, now at the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
(By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
8. The Marzocco, the heraldic lion and a symbol of Florence, now housed in the Piazza della Signoria
(By RicciSpeziari, Wikimedia Commons)
9. David, now housed in the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence
(By Donatello, Wikimedia Commons)
10. The Madonna and Child, now housed in the Louvre
(By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
11. The Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata, now located in the Piazza del Santo in Padua, Italy,
12. The Penitent Magdalene, now on display in the Museo dell' Opera del Duomo in Florence
(By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
13. The San Rossore Reliquary, now in Florence’s Museo Nazionale di San Matteo
(By Donatello, Wikimedia Commons)
14. Virgin and Child with Four Angels, now found in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
(By VAwebteam, Wikimedia Commons)
15. St George, now in the Bargello Museum, Florence
(By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
16. The Santa Croce Crucifix, now in the Cappella Bardi di Vernio, Florence, Italy
(By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
17. The Tomb of Antipope John XXIII, in the Florence Baptistry
18. The Pazzi Madonna, now at the Bode-Museum, Berlin
(By Donatello, Wikimedia Commons)
19. Saint Louis of Toulouse, in the Museo di Santa Croce, Florence
(By Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
20. The Piot Madonna, now in the Louvre
(By Donatello, Wikimedia Commons)
13 Terms in Art History You've Never Heard of
What are impasto, contrapposto, and (hold tight) - kalokagathia? You'll know by the end of this article.
There’s a Side to Michelangelo’s Artwork You’ve Never Seen
Take a look at the work of artist Michelangelo, beyond the Sistine Chapel and the statue of David, and created by him over 70 years.
16 Unforgettable Tracks By Nat King Cole
Celebrate the beautiful music of one of the most influential jazz pianists and vocalists in history - Nat King Cole.
Stunning Artwork That Will Melt Your Heart and in the Heat
Here are some majestic masterpieces sculpted entirely from snow at various different festivals across the world.
Admire the Talent of the World’s Top 15 Ballet Dancers
Ballet is one of the most delicate and elegant dance styles to watch, as proven by these 15 talented dancers...
Enter into the Healing Arena of Immersive Sound Baths
We invite you to enjoy this playlist as an introductory buffet to sound baths and sound healing. We recommend using your best headphones.
Frankenstein’s Mother: the Amazing Life of Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley's life was one of great tragedies, but also amazing achievements, being one of the first widely-respected female novelists.
WATCH: Bocelli Stuns Audience With An Amazing Surprise
Legendary tenor, Andrea Bocelli, does a wonderful job accompanying the lost voice of Edith Piaf in a glorious and totally unique performance.
This 3-Tenor Performance is Famous For its Beauty...
Back when these 3 tenors were still with us, they made this amazing gesture to another musical genius.
André Rieu Orchestrates an Incredible Duet!
What an extraordinary performance, as André Rieu orchestrates a song from La Traviata.
You've Never Heard Ave Maria Sung Like This Before
Martin Hurkens voice is absolutely incredible. Check it out here.
Listen to Andrea Bocelli in an Epic Duet with a Cello
We encourage you to take a few minutes out of your busy day to enjoy this performance of Anre Bocelli
Let 'The Sugar Plum Fairy Dance' Excite Your Xmas Spirit!
What poise ballerina Nina Kaptsova displays in this gorgeous performance of Tchaikovsky's most Christmassy dance!
Leonard Bernstein: 11 Majestic Performances
Get ready to be enchanted by the beautiful classical music played and conducted by one of the most esteemed composers of the 20th century.
You Haven’t Seen This Kind of Detail in Glass Art Before!
Glass is an unexpectedly flexible material - and artist Amber Cowan takes advantage of this fact to turn it into beautiful artwork...
Listen to This Stunning Rendition of a Christmas Classic
Pentatonix is an acapella group that is known throughout the world for its members' singing ability. Listen to them perform a Christmas classic in this video.
Stunning Underwater Statues From Around the World.
These underwater sculptures may at first glance seem misplaced, but once you find out their special purpose, you will never look at them the same again!
Stunning! These Pencil Drawings Look Like Photographs
Emanuele Dascanio is a true master of his craft, creating incredibly realistic graphite pencil and charcoal portraits.
Prepare to Be Blown Away by the Dance of the Century!
It's part visuals, part dance. And combined it makes one of the more touching performances we've seen this century.
This Family Makes Art. The Beach is Their Canvas
This family creates art together! Imagine what it would be like to wander on the beach and see their work in progress.
This Nuance Light Dance is Unlike Any Dance You've Seen
You may have seen many forms of dance, but I'll bet you've never seen something like this...
Watch Swan Lake Like You Have Never Seen it Before!
Wow, these ballet dancers are so good that they'll take your breath away. Check them out!
20 Books You Should Read & Reread in Your Lifetime...
Here are the 20 novels you should not only read once, but again and again!
This Boy's Harmonica Skills Are Outstanding!
This child's performance of "Rhapsody in Blue" by Gershwin on the harmonica blew me away. Check it out here!
This Has to Be One of the Best Musical Trios Ever!
What a classical team 2Cellos and Lang Lang make! Their performance of "Live and Let Die" is outstanding!
Watch This Master of Hoops in Smooth Action!
Valeri Tkach is a world-class juggler who is going to show you some tricks you've never seen before...
This 'Frozen' Shadow Dance Is Out of This World
Shadow Theatre VERBA presents their performance called 'Frozen', which has already enchanted millions of people from around the world.
This Girl Only Needs a Simple Flute to Delight Your Ears
Listen to the dulcet tones of this young girl's flute.
Music Box: 20 Unforgettable Hits by Donnie Osmond!
To celebrate Donny Osmond's birthday on December 9th, we have curated a collection of twenty nostalgic songs performed by him and some special friends.
This Art May Be Small, but It's Extremely Beautiful!
These breathtaking miniature pieces of art are the works of Japanese Artist Kiyomi. Check out her work, you're bound to be amazed!
Quiet Night In? Let These Amazing Movies Rack Your Brains
Have you ever watched a movie that leaves you scratching your head right until the very last scene? That's what these 10 amazing movies do best. Enjoy!
12 of the Best Lesser-Known Tales from the Arabian Nights
In this article, we explore some of the obscure stories from Arabian Nights that have been overlooked in popular culture.
You Have Never Heard Drums Played This Beautifully Before
Listen to these drums play in this incredible performance.
I Can’t Believe These Paper Sculptures are Hand-made
American sculptor Jeff Nishinaka creates masterworks out of paper. You won’t believe how detailed his handmade relief paper sculptures are.
The Beauty of Female Portraits Through the Centuries
This video is truly a testament to that statement that it is a small artistic world after all.
Relax With a Few Moments of Heavenly Music
Take a few moments for yourself. Close your eyes and let the smile spread on your face as this sweet music spreads in the air.
Cake Making Like THIS Is A Beautiful Art!
You can have some great fun baking, but you probably haven't tried to bake a cake that doubles as a work of art before. Here are 30+ examples to inspire you!
When the Erhu Is Playing, Everyone Stops to Listen
A beautiful and touching Erhu Performance. Is there a more beautiful sounding instrument than this? We don't think so!
Artist Creates Incredibly Detailed 3D Paintings on Glass
The detail in these incredible 3D glass paintings of animals is unbelievable! See for yourself...
So Satisfying! Watch a Destroyed Painting Come to Life
Watch this nearly destroyed portrait come back to life as a restoration expert walks you through the process of mending the beautiful artwork
This World Circus Acrobatic Performance is a Must-Watch!
This acrobatic performance is unlike anything you will ever watch! Remarkable!
Macedonian 3D Artist Puts a Modern Twist on Mythology
Models of ancient gods and figures of myth with a modern twist
WATCH: Hungarian Symphony Orchestra Interprets Brahms
The Romantic composer, Johannes Brahms, completed a series of compositions called the Hungarian Dances. Enjoy Hungarian Dance no. 5 in this video.
André Rieu Surprises Again with a Musical Extravaganza!
The Zandvoort racetrack in the Netherlands is an unexpected venue for a classical music performance, but conductor and violinist André Rieu recently captivated the audience.
If You Like Illusions - Prepare to Be Amazed!
Amazing Dutch illusionist Hans Klok will perform 10 illusions in 5 minutes!
16 Brilliant Embroidery Works You Need to See Now!
Embroidery, an ancient art form, has found new life in the digital age through the power of social media. Here are some stunning examples.
Photos Of Famous Artists’ Muses Alongside Their Portraits
How did the models painted on world-famous portraits look like in real life, did they look anything like the paintings they inspired?