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Donato di Niccolo di Betto Bardi (1386 - 1466), known as Donatello, was one of the greatest Florentine sculptors, and a leading figure of the early Renaissance.

He was extremely versatile, working in stone, metal, wood, terracotta and bronze. He was an innovator in many ways, and pioneered the use of the single vanishing- point perspective system in relief sculpture (see for example 'The Feast of Herod' for the Siena Font).

His earliest works include the marble Saint John and Saint George. His bronze David was the first nude since Antiquity. He created powerful emotional reliefs for the S. Lorenzo pulpits.

Donatello was a major influence on painters such as Masaccio as well as sculptors. Because he worked in Padua he also greatly influenced Mantegna and other artists who were trained there.