The Pieta was commissioned for the tomb of Cardinal Jean de Billheres, a representative in Rome. Michaelangelo was instructed to produce" the most beautiful work of marble in Rome". It is a testament to his tenacity of purpose and talent that Michelangelo was not intimidated by such a daunting request. Instead, he went to work and produced the Pieta, one of the most beautiful marble statues that exist today. The Pieta is an interpretation of Mary cradling a dead Christ in her arms. One of the things that stand out is the attention to detail, and the feeling that one can almost share in the grief of the sorrowful Mary as she cradles her son. Michelangelo was only 24 when he completed the Pieta. It is one of the most stunning works of the Italian High Renaissance.
The Discus Thrower (Discobolos) is an ancient Greek sculpture created by Myron. The statue has the contrapposto stance, where one leg extended to convey a sense of gravity and to increase the reality of sculpture. Myron's Discuss Thrower shows an athlete about to throw a discus. One of the attributes of the discus thrower is the perfection of the body portion, or symmetria.
Venus, or Aphrodite as her Greek name, is the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. The Venus de Milo's origin is shrouded in mystery because the sculptor remains anonymous to this day. It was discovered in the 19th century by a farmer digging his field on the Aegean Island of Melos. The arms are missing, but it is believed that one hand once held a shield, while the other held the mirror to admire her beauty. Today, the Venus de Milo can be found in the Louver in France.
The statue of David is probably the most famous statue in the world. It is another masterpiece by Michelangelo. He was commissioned to create the statue of David in 1501 by the Arte della Lana (Guild of wool Merchants) who were charged with the responsibility of maintaining the Cathedral in Florence. Michelangelo was given a block of marble which had previously been given to a Agostino di Duccio 40 years before. In Michelangelo's interpretation of David, the hero is not portrayed as an all- conquering giant-slayer; rather he portrays David as a tense youth preparing himself for battle. Another statue of David, this one by Donatello, is less famous than Michelangelo's portrayal of David.