The overwhelming theme of the Renaissance, especially in its early stages, was the renewal of antiquity. Emerging from what historians now call the Dark Ages, scholars and artists became enamored with the comparatively advanced culture of ancient Rome and Greece. Many characteristics of classical sculptures were intentionally applied to Renaissance as well. For example, most surviving pieces from ancient times had lost their paint over time; therefore, Renaissance sculptures were left unpainted.
Contrapposto is a term used to describe the realistic distribution of weight in a sculpture of a human. It is usually seen in the way a sculpted figure stands, with his weight focused on one leg and the other relaxed, resulting in a realistic, curving shape rather than a stiffly positioned posture. This concept was discovered in ancient Greece and revived by the sculptors of the Renaissance. Two well-known examples of Renaissance contrapposto are seen in sculptures by Michelangelo and Donatello, both of the biblical figure, David.
As in ancient Greece, there was a focus among Renaissance sculptors on portraying an idealized, beautiful human form rather than a convincing likeness. This was often undertaken in the sculpting of male nudes, especially biblical and mythical figures. Again, Donatello and Michelangelo's Davids, respectively, are examples of this characteristic of Renaissance sculpture. As techniques advanced, copies or casts of small bronze nudes became popular for wealthy individuals to purchase to decorate their homes.
In the middle of the Renaissance period, Pope Julius II paid artists to adorn Rome with beautiful paintings and sculptures to compete with her rival city of Florence, where the Renaissance had previously been centered. Since Rome was the center of the Church, much of the art was religious in nature but classical in style, another characteristic of Renaissance sculpture. Michelangelo's Pieta in St. Peter's Cathedral, showing Mary holding the body of Christ after his death, is perhaps the most famous example of this style of Renaissance art.