✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

You have reached the limit of free articles.


To enjoy unlimited access to Culture Whisper sign up for FREE.
Find out more about Culture Whisper

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy

Each week, we send newsletters and communication featuring articles, our latest tickets invitations, and exclusive offers.

Occasional information about discounts, special offers and promotions.


OR
LOG IN

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

Thanks for signing up to Culture Whisper.
Please check your inbox for a confirmation email and click the link to verify your account.



EXPLORE CULTURE WHISPER
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy
Forgot your username or password?
Don't have an account? Sign Up

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

If you click «Log in with Facebook» and are not a Culture Whisper user, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and to our Privacy Policy, which includes our Cookie Use

Support Us Login
  • Home
  • Going Out
    • Things to do
    • Food & Drink
    • Theatre
    • Visual Arts
    • Cinema
    • Kids
    • Festival
    • Gigs
    • Dance
    • Classical Music
    • Opera
    • Immersive
    • Talks
  • Staying In
    • TV
    • Books
    • Cook
    • Podcast
    • Design
    • Netflix
  • Life & Style
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Gifting
    • Wellbeing
    • Lifestyle
    • Shopping
    • Jewellery
  • Explore
  • Shopping
  • CW SHOPS
  • Support Us
  • Get Started
  • Tickets
  • CW SHOPS
Get the Best of London Life, Culture and Style
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).
Visual Arts

Donatello exhibition at the V&A review ★★★★★

11 Feb 23 – 11 Jun 23, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sculptures by Donatello and his peers in a must-see for Renaissance fans.

By Tabish Khan on 9/2/2023

Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance at V&A. 11 February - 11 June
Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance at V&A. 11 February - 11 June
Donatello exhibition at the V&A review 4 Donatello exhibition at the V&A review Eleonore Dresch


Donatello’s marble statue of David stands life-sized with a confident but clearly delicate and youthful face that’s so eye-catching it’s easy to miss the head of Goliath that rests at his feet. It marks the entrance to the V&A’s blockbuster exhibition on the sculptor and it’s a complete contrast to the museum’s cast of Michelangelo’s David that’s colossal and looks older, the latter being displayed in the museum’s cast courts. Both are comparably brilliant sculptures and it’s a real treat to be able to see both in the same museum thanks to V&A’s latest exhibition on the sculptor Donatello.



It’s not the only stunning sculpture in this show, others include a large head of God the Father complete with a deeply textured beard by Donatello’s peer Beltramino de Zuttis, and a scale bronze of a crucified Christ by Donatello where there’s fantastic detailing on the folds and holes in his tattered clothing.



Donatello was constantly innovating and he perfected the shallow relief technique of rilievo schiacciato, producing some smaller scale works that pull you in alongside the larger pieces. The Virgin, with the dead Christ, is often shown as serene and dignified but in Donatello’s hands he produced a depiction where the full agony of grief is evident on her face in a small-scale relief work, and if her eyes were to suddenly start shedding tears it would feel fitting.



Given his changing styles and the fact he inspired so many other sculptors, it does result in an exhibition where only around one third of the works on show are attributed to Donatello himself – with others by peers, followers and unknown sculptors from his time. ‘Donatello and his circle’ would have been a more accurate title for this exhibition, though thankfully that doesn’t detract from the quality of the sculpture on show with visually striking works of St. George slaying a dragon by Domenico di Paris and of St. Maurelius by Niccolo Baroncelli, flanking Donatello’s Christ.



It’s not all sculpture, including some paintings and an impressive copper, silver and gold processional cross – but it’s the sculpture that we’re here for and on that front no sculpture fan will be disappointed with the spectacular artworks in this show.



Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance at V&A. 11 February - 11 June. £20.




What Donatello exhibition at the V&A review
Where V&A, South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL | MAP
When 11 Feb 23 – 11 Jun 23, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Price £20
Website



Most popular

Things to do in London this weekend. Fumi Kaneko in Cinderella, The Royal Ballet © 2023 Tristram Kenton
Things to do in London this weekend: 31 March – 2 April
Irene Maiorino and Alba Rohrwacher in My Brilliant Friend season 4, HBO/Sky Atlantic (Photo: HBO)
My Brilliant Friend, season 4, Sky Atlantic: first-look photo, release date, plot, cast
Best art exhibitions in London. Photo: Thin Air at the Beams
Top exhibitions on now in London

Editor's Picks

Dan Flavin, David Zwirner Gallery, Londonn
Art Galleries: London's private exhibitions to see now
Zadie Smith new novel, The Fraud, to be released in 2023, photo Justin Holler
An A to Z of trends for 2023
Girls of Burriana by Hermenegildo Anglada Camarasa, Spain and the Hispanic world exhibition, Royal Academy
Spain and the Hispanic world, review
London best exhibitions 2023 - Hilma Af Klint detail
Best new art exhibitions: London 2023
London fashion exhibitions to see this year
London fashion exhibitions to see this year
Sign up to CW’s newsletter
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).

You might like

  • Girls of Burriana by Hermenegildo Anglada Camarasa, Spain and the Hispanic world exhibition, Royal Academy

    Spain and the Hispanic world, review ★★★★★

  • Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Tate Britain 2020

    Lynette Yiadom-Boakye: Fly in League with the Night, Tate Britain ★★★★★

  • Magdalena Abakanowicz exhibition, Tate Modern

    Magdalena Abakanowicz exhibition, Tate Modern Review ★★★★★



  • The Culture Whisper team
  • Support Us
  • Tickets
  • Contact us
  • Press
  • FAQ
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cookies
  • Discover
  • Venues
  • Restaurants
  • Stations
  • Boroughs
Sign up to CW’s newsletter
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).
×