1490s

David with the Head of Goliath

This graceful figure of David with the head of Goliath shows the biblical hero in triumph over his foe. Images of the youth standing over the severed head of the giant were common in art made in Florence, Italy, during the 1400s, and the composition of this group was closely inspired by Donatello’s famous statue of David (Bargello, Florence). This version and one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art have long been attributed to Bartolomeo Bellano, a student of Donatello. One of the most remarkable aspects of this sculpture is a relief on the underside of the base that depicts David and his flock of sheep. Unique to Renaissance bronzes, this feature suggests the statuette was meant to be handled, admired, turned over, and contemplated by its owner.