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....