Does Donatello deserve to be a Ninja Turtle?

by Goat_im_Himmel

The title is tongue in cheek, but the question is quite serious. Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo... those three I think of as titans of Renaissance art, and I can picture or name examples of their work, and have a general sense of their influence. Donatello though, even after Googling for what his famous works are, I still don't recognize any of them! When plumbing the depths of my knowledge, he is a Ninja Turtle, while the other three are artists who happen to also be Ninja Turtles.

So, if you were making a 'Big Four' of Renaissance artists, is he really such an odd-man out as my impression dictates? Is he simply one of the very talented artists produced by Italy in the period, but not one of the 'absolute greats'? Or is he just as much of a master as the other three immortalized in Testudic form, but unfortunately not as well remembered by the general public these days (and if the latter, why did he get comparatively forgotten?)?

AlviseFalier

Way ahead of you.

Although I'm sure an art historian could add to the discussion, and I'd be more than happy to answer any additional questions.

SpicyMayoJaySimpson

I have a piggy-back question that, while it could be its own post, also has to do with the Ninja Turtles. I once heard that Titian was meant to be a Ninja Turtle but was swapped out due to mispronunciations of his name. First, was that true, and second, would his inclusion be justified?