How do Michelangelo and Dontello's versions of the Biblical character David differ and similar?

Answer 1

Donatello's bronze David is androgynous and his dress leads many to believe that it is not, in fact, a depiction of David, but of the pagan god Mars (his boots, for example). Michelangelo's is muscular-- a man, not a boy as in Donatello's. Donatello was looking at miniature bronze sculptures, while Michelangelo made reference to classical Greek ideals.

Answer 2

Donatello's was way more boyish. Michelangelo's way extremely athletic, and note the completely enlarged depiction of the hands.

As far as similarities, both were Renaissance sculpture and thus seem to be based on classical Greek and Roman sculpture as far as proportion and emotion. However, the Renaissance sculptors do add modern and more natural angles.