Oriental Spiritual Paintings

The Third Stop of the International Tour Exhibition

·Florence·

It's not just a stone.

It's also the most perfect male body.

Let's take a look at the making of the "male god of the millennium"!

Liberate the "signs of life" from the stone. Outstanding artists have grand conceptions, which are deeply embedded in marble blocks. Only the hands guided by wisdom can set them free.

——Michelangelo Buonarroti

In the biblical story, David was originally a shepherd boy. He was acclaimed for heroically slaying the invading giant Goliath and later became the king of the Jews. In Christian art, David holds a significant position. He is not only a precursor or "archetype" of Christ, but according to the Gospel writer Matthew, he is also a direct ancestor of Christ.

Donatello, who was the teacher of Michelangelo, and Verrocchio, who was Leonardo da Vinci's teacher, both once sculpted the statue of David. They both depicted David as a young shepherd boy.Verrocchio's "David" and Donatello's "David" have many aspects worthy of comparison. Both of them adopted a classical style and presented David in the posture of calmly stepping over the head of the defeated.

Donatello's bronze sculpture "David" (around 1440) is the first work that revives the tradition of ancient nude statues.Donatello uses the contrapposto composition method established by the ancient Greeks to present to people the image of a boy with extremely accurate body proportions and structure.

The difference is that Donatello emphasized the elegance of the young David and did not portray David as an idolized heroic figure in accordance with the ancient tradition. Although Verrocchio used more angular and distinct lines to demonstrate David's fighting prowess, his work is a dedication that extols the power and influence of the Medici family, the rulers of Florence.

Michelangelo did not follow the predecessors' portrayal of David stepping on the enemy's head after defeating the enemy. Instead, he chose to depict David in the state of preparing for the battle.He meticulously depicted David's expression at the moment before the battle: standing confidently, with a valiant and heroic bearing, having a handsome face. His head is slightly turned to the left, and his eyes are intently fixed on the enemy, as if searching for the enemy far away on the horizon, ready to plunge into a new battle at any moment. His left hand holds the sling on his shoulder, and his right hand naturally hangs down, forming a slightly clenched fist. His right leg stands firmly on the ground, while his left leg is slightly bent in a relaxed manner.

Scholars often talk about the sense of division of the human body in "David" - his body is consciously divided into two parts: "the vitality of life" and "the meditation of life".

The right half is the foundation of the existence of "David", because visually it plays a role in supporting an upward and energetic posture. The left half plays a completely different role. The left hand gracefully holds the sling resting on the shoulder, and in that eternal moment of thought, the weapon of action (here action means the death of the enemy) is in a relaxed state. The left leg is at rest during the action that is too heavy for the vitality to bear, maintaining an eternal leisurely state.

The right half is the foundation of the existence of "David", because visually it plays a role in supporting an upward and energetic posture. The left half plays a completely different role. The left hand gracefully holds the sling resting on the shoulder, and in that eternal moment of thought, the weapon of action (here action means the death of the enemy) is in a relaxed state. The left leg is at rest during the action that is too heavy for the vitality to bear, maintaining an eternal leisurely state.

"David" is regarded as one of the most excellent male nude statues in the history of Western art!

From "David" crafted by Michelangelo, we have witnessed the pinnacle of sculptural art during the Renaissance and appreciated the artist's ultimate interpretation of life and strength. The long river of art surges ceaselessly. At the intersection of history and modernity, another touching chapter is about to be written.From July to August 2025, Mr. Wu Keyang, a Chinese oil painter, will set foot on the artistic holy land of Florence and hold a solo art exhibition lasting for a month. With the unique charm of Eastern art, he will collide and blend with Western art, presenting a visual and spiritual feast to the world.We sincerely invite all art lovers to attend this artistic appointment, experience the charm of art that transcends time and space together, and witness the wonderful moment of the dialogue between Eastern and Western art!

Appreciation of works