The Statue of David in Florence,Italy

Historical Significance of the Statue of David

In 1501, Michelangelo Buonarrot was a young sculptor of 26, and was fresh from his accomplishment of creating Pieta in Rome. He was commissioned by the Opera del Duomo of the Cathedral of Florence to sculpt a marble structure of David. The board decided to place it in one of the  cathedral’s tribunes at about 80 M from the ground.

The marble that Michaelangelo chose to carve out his masterpiece from, was previously abandoned by other artists due to his imperfections.

David, according to the Old Testament, was a young Israeli Shepherd. He fearlessly accepted the daunting challenge of fighting Goliath, a mammoth Philistine champion in a single combat. What sets this young hero apart is his choice of weapons- a sling and five stones from a nearby brook.

When David and Goliath confront each other, David was armored just with his sling, stones, fortitude and his faith in God. He hurls a stone from his sling that hits Goliath between his brows. He falls on his face to the ground and David subsequently cuts off his head.

Michelangelo worked at his Masterpiece for 4 years but kept his gigantic creation hidden until January 1504. The Vestry board decided that because of the divine craftsmanship and perfection of the sculpture of David, it should be placed in the political heart of Florence, Piazza della Signoria. It was installed next to the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio, on June 8th 1504.

Artistic features of David

Michaelangelo’s profuse understanding of the human anatomy becomes evident with:

• The watchful yet determined eyes,
• The Colossal muscles, and
• The engorged veins on the back of the marble structure of David in Florence

Michelangelo’s David stands in contrapposto, a classic pose of one leg relaxed while the full body weight falling on the other. This gives a s-shaped curve to his gargantuan and torso. It also brings out the contemplative and introspective moment that Michelangelo chooses to depict David.

In a way, Michelangelo transforms his protagonist to a symbol of the Christian idea that man has been made in the image of god. Despite being a shepherd, David in the hands of Michelangelo resembles Goliath in his ginormousness and his colossal size.

The Marble structure of David in Florence is often held guilty of having disproportionately large hands and head. This is because he  was meant to be seen from far below.

Political Statement

The sculpture of David carries a hidden slingshot , making his victory sheerly based on intelligence. To place the statue of David in The Piazza della Signoria, gazing menacingly towards Rome, makes it a symbol of victory against the Medicis who were in exile for 10 years in Rome.

David: a Renaissance Man

Renaissance was an age of rediscovering humanism and the triumphs of man, who attains a god-like status in his quest to succeed. David, here achieves a similar divine demeanor by trying to triumph in an impossible quest, thus thinning the lines between the Creator and his creation. The immense concentration that exudes from his eyes help him become a symbol of a Renaissance man who believes that nothing is impossible if faith in God is strong in the heart.

Weighing 5660 kilos and standing 17 feet tall, Michelangelo’s David took four days and 40 men to be brought inside.