Donato di Niccolo di Betto Bardi (better known by his nickname Donatello) was born in Florence in the year 1386. In 1403 he was apprenticed to the sculptor and metalsmith Lorenzo Ghiberti and the two of them made the bronze doors to the baptistery of Florence Cathedral.
Soon Donatello was receiving commissions of his own and he created a life size marble sculpture of David in 1408. He was still learning his craft and a difference can be seen between Donatello's later works (which are more emotional) and this, his first.
Donatello was commissioned to work for the powerful Medici family in the 1530s and he continued to take work from wealthy patrons for the rest of his career - in addition to commissions from the Church and the State.
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One of his later works shows a gaunt and near to death Mary Magdalene, which may have illustrated Donatello's thoughts of his own mortality. He died of unknown causes on the 13th of December 1466 at the age of 80, and was buried in the Basilica of San Lorenzo, next to Cosimo de' Medici.
Donatello was the greatest sculptor before the coming of Michelangelo in the following century. He was without doubt the most influential of all the 15th century artists.
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For a closer look at the pictures, please click on them to enlarge.
1.
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The Equestrian statue of Gattamelata in the city of Padua is a life sized representation of Erasmo da Narni. Who exactly was Erasmo?
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[ ] |
He was a king |
[ ] |
He was a jockey |
[ ] |
He was a prince |
[ ] |
He was a soldier |
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2.
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Commissioned in 1411 for the Orsanmichele church in Florence, this is a statue of which saint?
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[ ] |
Saint Mattew |
[ ] |
Saint Mark |
[ ] |
Saint Luke |
[ ] |
Saint John |
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3.
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This is Donatello's statue of Saint John the Evangelist, a seated figure which is how tall?
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[ ] |
210cm (6ft 10in) |
[ ] |
190cm (6ft 2in) |
[ ] |
170cm (5ft 7in) |
[ ] |
150cm (4ft 11in) |
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4.
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Originally crafted for the bell tower of Florence Cathedral, the Statue of the Prophet Habakkuk is also known as Lo Zuccone because of its resemblance to which vegetable?
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[ ] |
A courgette |
[ ] |
A butternut squash |
[ ] |
A pumpkin |
[ ] |
An acorn squash |
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5.
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The Feast of Herod is a relief sculpture created by Donatello from what material?
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[ ] |
Marble |
[ ] |
Brass |
[ ] |
Alabaster |
[ ] |
Bronze |
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6.
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Commissioned by the powerful Medici family during the 1440s, this is a statue of which biblical figure who was the symbol of Florence?
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[ ] |
David |
[ ] |
Cain |
[ ] |
Joseph |
[ ] |
Moses |
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7.
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This is a bust of the Florentine politician Niccolo da Uzzano, made from what material?
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[ ] |
Bronze |
[ ] |
Terracotta |
[ ] |
Alabaster |
[ ] |
Marble |
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8.
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Created circa 1455, the Penitent Magdalene had to be restored in the 1960s after it was damaged by what?
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[ ] |
By a fire |
[ ] |
By a jar of acid |
[ ] |
By a flood |
[ ] |
By pot of paint |
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9.
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This statue of Saint George was commissioned by which guild of craftsmen for the Orsanmichele church in Florence?
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[ ] |
The Guild of Coopers |
[ ] |
The Guild of Blacksmiths |
[ ] |
The Guild of Armourers |
[ ] |
The Guild of Printers |
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10.
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Another commission for the Medici family, this piece shows which two biblical figures?
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[ ] |
Delilah and Samson |
[ ] |
Judith and Holofernes |
[ ] |
Bathsheba and Uriah |
[ ] |
Salome and John the Baptist |
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1.
|
The Equestrian statue of Gattamelata in the city of Padua is a life sized representation of Erasmo da Narni. Who exactly was Erasmo?
|
|
[ ] |
He was a king |
[ ] |
He was a jockey |
[ ] |
He was a prince |
[x] |
He was a soldier |
|
|
2.
|
Commissioned in 1411 for the Orsanmichele church in Florence, this is a statue of which saint?
|
|
[ ] |
Saint Mattew |
[x] |
Saint Mark |
[ ] |
Saint Luke |
[ ] |
Saint John |
|
|
3.
|
This is Donatello's statue of Saint John the Evangelist, a seated figure which is how tall?
|
|
[x] |
210cm (6ft 10in) |
[ ] |
190cm (6ft 2in) |
[ ] |
170cm (5ft 7in) |
[ ] |
150cm (4ft 11in) |
|
|
4.
|
Originally crafted for the bell tower of Florence Cathedral, the Statue of the Prophet Habakkuk is also known as Lo Zuccone because of its resemblance to which vegetable?
|
|
[ ] |
A courgette |
[ ] |
A butternut squash |
[x] |
A pumpkin |
[ ] |
An acorn squash |
|
|
5.
|
The Feast of Herod is a relief sculpture created by Donatello from what material?
|
|
[ ] |
Marble |
[ ] |
Brass |
[ ] |
Alabaster |
[x] |
Bronze |
|
|
6.
|
Commissioned by the powerful Medici family during the 1440s, this is a statue of which biblical figure who was the symbol of Florence?
|
|
[x] |
David |
[ ] |
Cain |
[ ] |
Joseph |
[ ] |
Moses |
|
|
7.
|
This is a bust of the Florentine politician Niccolo da Uzzano, made from what material?
|
|
[ ] |
Bronze |
[x] |
Terracotta |
[ ] |
Alabaster |
[ ] |
Marble |
|
|
8.
|
Created circa 1455, the Penitent Magdalene had to be restored in the 1960s after it was damaged by what?
|
|
[ ] |
By a fire |
[ ] |
By a jar of acid |
[x] |
By a flood |
[ ] |
By pot of paint |
|
|
9.
|
This statue of Saint George was commissioned by which guild of craftsmen for the Orsanmichele church in Florence?
|
|
[ ] |
The Guild of Coopers |
[ ] |
The Guild of Blacksmiths |
[x] |
The Guild of Armourers |
[ ] |
The Guild of Printers |
|
|
10.
|
Another commission for the Medici family, this piece shows which two biblical figures?
|
|
[ ] |
Delilah and Samson |
[x] |
Judith and Holofernes |
[ ] |
Bathsheba and Uriah |
[ ] |
Salome and John the Baptist |
|
|