DONATELLO

Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi, commonly referred to as Donatello, is considered one of the greatest artists of the Italian Renaissance. His birth in Florence, Italy occurred during a politically and economically progressive period of time, which placed him into a world of influences such as Ghiberti, the Medici family, Brunelleschi, and others. His expressive works in sculpture and bas-relief revealed an attention to styles of antiquity, and his unconventional approach to classic form and narrative at the forefront of the Renaissance influenced his contemporaries and inspired posterity. He is, upon complete recognition, pioneer of the Italian Renaissance.