Throughout history there were many great artists. Some were discovered early in their lives and some are never discovered at all. Sometime after 1386, a great artist was discovered, Donato di Niccolo de Betto Bardi, know to the world as Donatello. Donatello was well known for playing a large part in Art History. He was included in the group of great artists, such as, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Rahpael. Although Donatello was in the group of great artists, he stood out with his own extravagant styles and abilities. Many art critics debated on whether or not he was a classical or realistic artist. Or maybe it was because he was both. Donatello showed his admirers how he would combine two kinds or art. .
To start, a clear explanation of what classicism and realism in his art time, from the "Understanding Art" text that we use in class, the definition of realism is: A style of art characterized by portraying subject matter accurately and truthfully. The name of the art styles which portrayed subject matter in this manner . Realism started pertaining to detail, having precise descriptions of places or regions. This is known as topographical. Realism also consisted of a pleasing picture, fitted to form, represented clearness and ideal beauty, whether being natural or artificial, sometimes striking or interesting in an unusual way. A more inferior way of say this is that realism is picturesque. There are some key elements to the style of realism. Feelings are controlled, there is much symbolized emotional involvement of day to day activity. The monstrosity of the figures usually matches the heroic dignity that artists were gradually acquiring in the mind of the public. There is a slice of life in the artwork, truth is found in reality of everyday normality. There are coarsely textured surfaces from palette knives in realistic artwork.
I was unable to find a clear definition of classicism in any art book available to me, including out textbook.