St. John The Evangelist

Before the centuries of the Renaissance period, religion was the center of the governmental, as well as the moral and ethical core. As such, a vast amount of religious inspiration could be found in the Medieval arts, which spanned from sculpting to literature. However, in the initial stages of the Renaissance, Donatello led a revolution in terms of changing what was considered normal for artwork during his life. Though he is famously known for his sculpture of David, his portrayal of Christian saints, prominently St. John The Evangelist, aided in defining the new world of Renaissance art by divulging into the characteristics of humanity, known as humanism. Donatello was able to bring that humanistic approach to artwork by masking the interpreted
John The Evangelist was sculpted in Donatello’s favored marble. In the sculpture itself, St. John is depicted in his older years, which is drawn from his long beard and bushy eyebrows. His hair is styled in a curly manner which boldly highlights the outline of his skull, directly drawing the eyes to his face. The face itself holds a serious glance though slightly upward as though he was looking into the horizon. There is also a distinct, subtle gaze of worry, as though he had some flashback to the past or insight to the future, but the emotional presence within the face is generally prominent with thoughtful divinity and curious wonder, almost puzzled. He has a relaxed posture while he is sitting and leans a book against his thigh. Considering St. John is a Christian saint, he is seen wearing traditional monk attire; a simple robe. He is not wearing any type of
John, D’Epiro also notes that the sculpture of St. John was meant to be viewed from below, which apparently creates a “powerful triangle shape”. (137) However, the sculpture assumes the powerful regardless of where it is viewed. Staring at St. John straight ahead, adversely, enhances the perception of power, whether it be the physical stature or the power of independence and emotion mixed with intellectualism.
Donatello was able to communicate through art to effectively describe the time period that he lived in. With St. John The Evangelist, Donatello described a time period dominated by religious rule, but a dormant need for the process of thought and independence. Donatello’s humanistic values were not limited to ideas as his contributions led to a movement that directly bled into and formed Renaissance art, the forefront of the Renaissance era. The characteristic of independence has since remained constant and a whole as a functioning