ACCADEMIA, David - First Part

And you've finally made it to stand and admire David, the emblem par excellence of a hero, an icon of beauty and human perfection, the universal symbol of physical and intellectual strength. Here's the giant in all his grandeur and majesty under the large skylight in the Tribune. If you are visiting the Galleria dell'Accademia for the first time, or even if you've been here before, the sight of the most famous sculpture in western art history is always a breathtaking experience!

The circumstances in which David arose could hardly have predicted that he would become such a celebrity. The creation of a colossal figure for the exterior of Florence's Cathedral in the summer of 1501 almost immediately seemed to be a near-impossible task. Over 4 meters tall and weighing 5 tons, the statue had to be carved from a marble block that had already been poorly sketched by two sculptors who were forced to abandon the project due to its insufficient depth and the marble's poor quality. Despite these difficulties, the then 22 year old Michelangelo didn't hesitate to accept the challenge, as he was aware of the prestige that the assignment would have guaranteed him if he was successful.

In addition to his exceptional technical dexterity shown in the highly effective shaping of David's body and the astonishing chiaroscuro effects, the Tuscan artist demonstrated remarkable skill in depicting the hero. As I have already mentioned, David's character is deeply rooted in the city's tradition as a symbol of the small Florentine Republic's strength, yet once again, Michelangelo avoided repeating well-established schemes. Unlike the bronze sculptures by Donatello and Verrocchio, Michelangelo's David is depicted not after but immediately before his battle with the giant Goliath. His only weapons are the sling in his left hand and the stone in his right, but above all the determination and courage with which he faces the Philistine leader. The muscles of his body indicate his physical power, and his furrowed brow shows his intense concentration.

Among the numerous works of art that have been attacked through time for their symbolic value, David had to be included, and in 1991 he risked losing the tip of a toe on his left foot because a crazy man attacked him with a hammer.

FUN FACT: when Michelangelo started working on David in the courtyard of the modern Cathedral Works Museum, the interest around the work was already so high that in order to avoid being disturbed, he built a fence with wood panels!