Michelangelo’s defiantDavidstatue has captivated the world for centuries.
Since its debut in the early 16th century, artists and art connoisseurs alike have admired the piece.
Who was Michelangelo?
CommissioningDavid
Michelangelo created theStatue of Davidfrom a single block of marble between 1501 and 1504.
Weighing at six tons, however, it was clear that the statue would be nearly impossible to lift.
ThereDavidstood as a symbol of strength and defiance from 1504 until its permanent relocation to theGalleria dell’Accademiain 1873.
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Symbolism
The sculpture portrays David, a biblical hero.
In a particularly well-known narrative (1 Samuel 17), David battles Goliath, a colossal Philistine.
Additionally, as an independent city-state, the Republic of Florence was aware of the threats that surrounded it.
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His realistic and highly detailed anatomy, with lifelike veins and muscles, further affirms these qualities.
They also commonly choose to capture the moment after he has slain Goliath.
This approach is evident in well-known works by Early Renaissance artistDonatelloas well as Baroque painterCaravaggio.
Photo: Jörg Bittner Unna viaWikimedia Commons(CC BY 3.0)
Scale
At 17 feet tall, Michelangelo’sDavidis clearly a larger-than-life portrayal.
Likely, the sculpture’s stature is a result of its intended location: the roof of the cathedral.
Photo: Jörg Bittner Unna viaWikimedia Commons(CC BY 3.0)
Photo: Jörg Bittner Unna viaWikimedia Commons(CC BY 3.0)
Photo: Jörg Bittner Unna viaWikimedia Commons(CC BY 3.0)
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Photo: Jörg Bittner Unna viaWikimedia Commons(CC BY 3.0)
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