Donatello's David with Goliath's head is a prime example of Donatello's humanist style of sculpture. The figure of David is stark naked except for his ornate hat, is a nod to the beauty of the human form. The very decorative hat normally suited for accenting an outfit, serves the point that the human body is the most beautiful attire a person can where. The life and death shown with Goliath's head at David's feet is a way to depict secularism in a subtle way. With David being the only living survivor, he is holding himself proudly over death as if to say 'wouldn't you rather live life than die?' Donatello chooses to focus David on the physical world in life, as apposed to the medieval mindset of life is to prepare yourself for death. In a rare form, Donatello also captures a third theme of the renaissance era. David, in the original underdog story, defeats the might Goliath single handed. In this depiction of individualism, Donatello says to the patrons of the time that one person can make a major difference on their own and success is not dependent on the will of God alone.
Donatello's St. Mark statue captures the pursuit of knowledge in the secular world. St. Mark spent his entire life trying to educate people on the life to come. Even thought he was teaching about the afterlife, he was still focused on the actions people make in the physical world around them. Donatello has St. Mark posed, as if about to write a letter with the papers in his hand, or to deliver a speech about how to behave on earth that he has just written down. Donatello uses this religious figure to show that one can be preparing himself for the life to come while also giving thought to what is happening to you on earth.
Donatello's St. George is one of Donatello's Individualist sculptures that he most liked to make. St. George is standing proud with a thrust out chin and a near defiant look in his smooth marble eyes. He is leaning on his shield as a conqueror does after a great victory, there is no worry on his face, only the glow of a man who has accomplished a monumental task and beaten all of the odds. Donatello inspires all who look upon the proud face of St. George to remember the trials and pains o the world he endured while being tortured at the hands of the Romans. Donatello flaunts St. George's individualism of having defeated the might dragon single handed. with George's posture and positioning of the shield, we know that Donatello wanted to give the people faith through hard times and display what wonders a single person can achieve using the exploits and bravado he gave St. George.
Donatello's Judith and Holofernes further supports the impact individualistic ideals had on Donatello. Donatello's obsession with what the individual can do if they put their mind too it is his most important theme in sculpture. With Judith holding the sword confidently over the head of Holofernes right before she delivers the downward stroke, her eyes near sparkling with the single minded drive to accomplish the impossible. Judith looks like she is about to start celebrating the triumph over her enemy, and all that stands in her way is this one moment before she completes her task permanently. Donatello displays to the renaissance world that the problem will eventually buckle under the weight of a single individuals will power. Look at how Holofernes looks defeated nd ready to die at the hands of his aggressor, he is the embodiment of all the problems in the renaissance world that can be over come by the will and actions of even a single person.