How do the figures in Masaccio’s Tribute Money show the influence of Donatello and Roman relief sculpture?

In Masaccio’s Tribute Money, the figures exhibit a sense of weight, gravity, and monumentality that reflects the direct influence of Donatello’s sculpture and antique Roman relief carvings.1

The influence of these sculptural traditions is evident in several key ways:

• Sculptural Volume: Masaccio’s figures possess a "sculpturelike" appearance, conveying a palpable sense of three-dimensional volume. This was achieved through his mastery of light and shadow, which gives the figures an anatomical solidity similar to carved forms.234
• Drapery and Form: Masaccio likely learned from Donatello the effectiveness of using simple, clear drapery folds that drape over a full, powerful body, emphasizing the underlying human form rather than obscuring it.4
• Monumentality and Dignity: By drawing on the seriousness and solemnity found in Roman reliefs and Donatello’s work, Masaccio moved away from medieval conventions to create figures that embody human dignity and virtue.1
• Spatial Integration: Much like the low-relief techniques developed by Donatello, Masaccio’s figures are placed within a clearly articulated, rational space, allowing them to exist as heroic individuals within a specific, believable environment.14