This can be seen in David’s sensual form, a lithe body cast in a curving pose.
As the first free-standing nude since the Classical period, Donatello’s David(c.1440-43) demonstrates a strong impulse toward antiquity. Not only did Donatello employ the ancient Greek and Roman technique of lost-wax casting to create a form of hollow bronze, but his sculpture also celebrated the human body rather than just the spirit, echoing the engagement with beauty and pleasure in classical cultures. This can be seen in David’s sensual form, a lithe body cast in a curving pose. The asymmetrical balance of his stance, with one hip forward and his weight shifted to one leg, demonstrates a classic Renaissance technique called contrapposto.