Donatello’s bronze sculpture David depicts the biblical hero standing over the severed head of Goliath.
Created in Florence during the 1440s or 1450s, the work is widely regarded as the earliest known freestanding nude statue made in Europe since antiquity. David wears a hat and boots, while his relaxed, youthful pose contrasts with the enormous sword beside him. The sculpture is cast in bronze and stands about 158 centimetres tall.
The statue was probably commissioned by the Medici family and was originally displayed in the courtyard of the Medici palace in Florence. Its subject reflects the biblical story of a seemingly weak figure defeating a powerful enemy, an idea that resonated with Florence’s political identity.
Donatello’s David is often confused with Michelangelo’s later marble David, completed around 1504. Michelangelo shows David before the battle, whereas Donatello presents the victory after Goliath has been defeated.