Donatello's David is associated with which period and which material?

• A. Renaissance, Marble
• B. Baroque, Bronze
• C. Renaissance, Bronze
• D. Neoclassical, Bronze

Answer: (C)

Donatello's David sits in the early Renaissance in Florence and is made in bronze. This pairing shows how artists of that period revived classical ideas and techniques, shifting away from medieval styles toward naturalism and human-centered subjects. Bronze was a preferred material for important sculptural works because it captures fine detail and allows for lasting, life-size figures, and Donatello used the lost-wax casting method to achieve a calm, natural stance and contrapposto that reflect Renaissance ideals. In contrast, Baroque sculpture emphasizes drama and movement, while Neoclassical works come later and often align with different stylistic aims; the date and the use of bronze here align with Renaissance sculpture, not those later movements.