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Andrea Del Castagno Analysis

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During the Renaissance, a religious view of the world made a huge impact on art. The biblical character David became an emerging popular subject among artists. Although David’s story is quite simple, artists faced challenges creating a visual representation of the young hero. The two main obstacles were discovering how to portray the body committing the act, and also rendering the spirit of the act itself. Among the artists who tried to recreate this story visually were Andrea del Castagno and Andrea del Verrocchio. Castagno introduced his form of the David through painting. The piece was entitled David with the Head of Goliath, and was originally used as a parade shield. It differed from common parade shields, which were decorated with simple coat and arms, due to its rare painted scene. The shield was believed to “have been carried in civic or religious processions or have …show more content…

His David is depicted in a confident pose after the battle with Goliath is already won, while Castagno depicts David in both the moment of fighting the giant and after defeating him. Both art works show Goliath’s head under David’s feet, but Castagno tells more of the biblical story in his imagery and action. The piece being painted upon a shield also plays a testimonial role. In the Old Testament, David is a young shepherd; he uses the motive that if God protects his sheep than God too will protect him before going into battle with Goliath. By painting this imagery on a shield, one can conclude that God is David’s shield (David). Verrocchio’s work lacks this deeper analytical meaning. Andrea del Castagno’s David with Head of Goliath stands 45 1/2 x 30 1/8 inches wide at the top and 45 1/2 x 16 inches wide at the bottom. The work was made of tempera on leather on wood. Castagno painted the piece in about 1450/1455. The work was part of the Widener Collection, at the National Gallery of Art

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