and are characteristic of the later mannerism style, while the rest of his form is somewhat true to the conventions of the High Renaissance (Shaked 1). Michelangelos work embodies the influences of his time just as Berninis Bernini born was in Naples in 1598 and was turned on to art at an early age by his father. He grew up with influences such as Hellenistic nudes and Classicism, but his most important artistic factor was being in Rome during the Baroque movement (Dexter 1). Bernini took a different and fitting approach to sculpting David. It was Berninis first major work, which he completed at the age of only twenty-one over a period of only seven months. Shakard writes, [Bernini] depicted David as an artist (of war), using his hands as the means of his art (1). The work depicts him with his slingshot cocked back, his armor on the ground behind him because of its weight and his harp shrouded at his feet. Through this Bernini conveys Davids smaller stature and that his life is not one of a warrior. He wants to strike Goliath from afar. Davids face vividly expresses his emotions of determination and concentration (Wallace 27). David is on diagonal plane and is asymmetrical yet balanced. Sharp lines are realistically juxtaposed throughout. The artist creates an illusionistic space in front of David, which engulfs the viewer into the action and captures a moment frozen in stone (Janson 556-7). Berninis David epitomizes the Baroque art and his time.While Berninis work is a perfect example of his style and time, Michelangelos work is not truly classicism yet it reflects his time, and they were still very similar. Both were influenced by some of the same elements. Each was greatly influenced by major art cities in Italy, both of their breakthroughs came in Rome and both came into contact with the Hellenistic nudes at an impressionable stage in their art careers. They also both use symbolism to convey meanings. Michelangelos wo...
