What sculptor is famous for his Pieta and his David?

• A. Bernini
• B. Donatello
• C. Rodin
• D. Michelangelo

Answer: (D)

This question tests knowledge of which sculptor created two iconic works, the Pieta and David. The artist who did both is Michelangelo. His Pieta is a marble sculpture that shows Mary cradling Jesus after the crucifixion, celebrated for its delicate, lifelike drapery and serene emotion; it was completed around 1498–1499 and now sits in St. Peter’s Basilica. David, carved from a single block of marble between 1501 and 1504, captures a poised, idealized David before the battle and is famed for its anatomy and classical harmony. Together, these works embody High Renaissance ideals of balance, proportion, and expressive detail, cementing Michelangelo’s standing as a master sculptor. The other artists listed belong to different periods or produced different works: Donatello created an early Renaissance David, Bernini’s famous David is a Baroque piece from a later era, and Rodin belongs to a much later period with his own distinct subjects.