Donatello, Saint Mark

Donatello, Saint Mark, 1411-1413, Early Italian Renaissance

1) Donatello was the first artist since antiquity to reintroduce the contrapposto (a natural shift in weight in a standing position) stance to a statue 

2) Commissioned by the linenmaker/tailors' guild for their patron saint (signified in the lines of Mark's clothing and the intricate pillow he's standing on)

3) St. Mark was a gospel writer and is depicting holding his gospel