The statue of David in Florence is a masterpiece of world sculptural art. Statue of David in Florence Michelangelo's David Florence where is it located

The statue of David by the great Michelangelo is one of the most impressive works Italian Renaissance. This sculpture is considered the perfect ideal of male beauty. Today David can be seen at the Academy Fine Arts.

"David" by Michelangelo Buonarotti - a priceless masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, photo isra

The statue of David by the great Michelangelo (David di Michelangelo Firenze) is one of the most impressive works of the Italian Renaissance. This sculpture is considered the perfect ideal of male beauty.

Today "David" can be seen in the building of the Florentine Academy of Fine Arts. On Piazza della Signoria, where the statue originally stood, a copy of it has now been installed.

Version of David's Creation

There is a version of the creation of a masterpiece, described in the work of Giorgio Vasari. According to this story, a huge block of marble intended for sculpture was damaged by an inept sculptor. Leonardo da Vinci was offered to fix the work, but the illustrious master refused indignantly. Then the material was given to the young talented Michelangelo, and the sculptor amazed everyone with his creation.

About sculpture

David at the Academy of Fine Arts, photo b.fabio85

"David" was installed in Piazza Signoria near the Palazzo Vecchio in September 1504. Height marble statue was 516 cm. Its scale testifies to the skill of Michelangelo. He did not make a full-size clay model, but sculpted only a small wax prototype. Working on fragments of the sculpture, he saw only a small part of it up close - however, all the proportions of the figure and features of David's face are perfectly observed.

Marble David looks formidable and confident, complete inner strength. The hero is preparing for a fight with Goliath: in his hand is a sling, his muscles are tense. In anticipation of the enemy, the gaze of the shepherd boy is directed towards the Arno River. David is depicted naked, in the spirit of ancient statues, but his nakedness only emphasizes calmness and freedom.

Statue placement and damage

The authorities of Florence were delighted with Buonarotti's work. The statue was placed in a special wooden tower (the marble statue was hung in a box to protect it from shock during transportation). Troubles awaited the creation of Michelangelo even at the time of transportation: a group of young people, supporters of the Medici dynasty, attacked the procession. They sought to capture and destroy the symbol of the republican government. Fortunately, the plan of the rebels failed.

Marble statue of David by Michelangelo, photo by Pete Riches

In 1512, lightning struck the pedestal, but the elements did not damage the marble figure. In April 1527, during the second expulsion of the Medici from the city, supporters of the republic took refuge in the Palazzo Vecchio. They threw stones and furniture from the windows and caused some damage to the statue. The broken fragments were collected and hidden by Francesco Salviati and Giorgio Vasari. Later, the defects were eliminated, but their traces are still visible.

For centuries, the surface of marble has been destroyed by wind and moisture. The statue needed restoration - it was carried out in 1843 by Lorenzo Bartolini. The methods of the time were crude: marble was scraped off with cutting tools and hydrochloric acid, the top layer of material has suffered irreparable damage.

Copy of the sculpture of David in Piazza della Signoria, photo by Alan-Studt

To stop the destruction of the masterpiece, it was decided to move "David" to the Academy of Fine Arts. At the end art gallery The Academy architect Emilio de Fabrice built a new plinth. The statue was transported, with unprecedented precautions, in an elaborate wooden wagon. In August 1873, she took a new place, but for several more years she stood packed in a box. Only since July 1882, the creation of Michelangelo was open to the public.

In 1991, already within the walls of the Academy, there was a new attempt on "David". The insane Piero Kanata attacked the statue with a hammer. He managed to damage two toes of his left foot on the sculpture. The damage was repaired, but traces of it are still visible.

Restoration

A major restoration of Buonarotti's masterpiece was carried out in 2003, in a Florentine semi-precious stone workshop Opificio delle pietre dure. On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the creation of the priceless statue, experienced craftsmen completely cleaned it of pollution accumulated over the centuries.

Sculpture of David (Michelangelo)
Via Bettino Ricasoli, 60 50122 Firenze Italy
uffizi.firenze.it

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Wonders of Florence: sculpture of David.

Michelangelo is an Italian architect, painter, poet and sculptor, known throughout the world for his unique creations. The most striking and recognizable work of the master was the statue of David in Florence. About the history and description of this masterpiece, as well as interesting facts and other impressive works of the master, you will read in the presented article.

History of Michelangelo's statue

In the 15th century, construction work was underway in Florence to build the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. In the years of completion of construction, the question arose of decorating the interior of the building. This business was handled by a successful and enterprising guild of wool merchants. They were both the customer and the sponsor of the construction of the temple, as well as its interior design. Members of the society agreed that in order to give the building a special beauty and sophistication, it is necessary to decorate it with 12 statues of the prophets from the Old Testament.

In 1464, the sculptor Donatello and his student Agostino di Duccio created 2 statues. The guild liked the work of the masters, and they ordered another statue from them - David. For this, a large piece of marble, mined in Carrara, was delivered to Florence. After the death of Donatello in 1466, his journeyman refused to fulfill the contract. The creation of David passed into the hands of Antonio Rosselino, however, he could not fulfill the order given to him.

The lump under open sky, locals nicknamed "Giant". Due to the change in weather and temperature, the marble decreased in size, cracks and chips appeared on it. At the beginning of the 16th century, the ministers of the cathedral consulted with Leonardo da Vinci, who recognized the stone as fit for sculpture.

The next master who was entrusted with the execution of the statue of David was the 26-year-old Michelangelo Buonarroti. In August 1501, he signed a contract, and a month later he began to process the shapeless marble into a masterpiece. perfect body person. The sculptor worked alone for days on end. The block stood in the open air, therefore, in the process of creating his creation, Michelangelo endured heavy rains, winter cold, and summer heat.

In January 1504, a "show" of the finished statue of David was scheduled. Such Florentine masters as Andrea dela Robbia, Botticelli, Giuliano and Antonio Sangallo, Perugino, Andrea Sovino and others came to the cathedral. They had to appreciate the creation of a young and ambitious Italian. After the removal of the fence protecting the sculpture from prying eyes, Michelangelo's ideal David appeared before the eyes of the assembled critics. All the masters who came admired his creation, and the Signoria, who was present, offered to make the sculpture a symbol of the new Republican Florence.

David was placed in Piazza della Signoria in May 1504, in place of the statue of Judith by Donatello. In 1527, the rule of Florence was again in the hands of the Medici family. As a result of the defense of one of the buildings of the city, David's hand was smashed to smithereens. The fragments were collected by the sculptor Vasari, and after 16 years (1543) he restored the masterpiece at the behest of Cosimo I Medici.

For several centuries David stood in the open air. Due to the inconsistency of the weather, the material became unusable. In the 19th century, the sculpture underwent 2 restorations, but they were extremely unsuccessful. In 1873, David was moved to the Academy Gallery, where he took a place specially designated for him - a large tribune. The place on Piazza della Signoria also did not remain in ruins. In 1910, an excellent copy of the Old Testament character was installed here.

In 2003-2004, Michelangelo's statue was cleaned of accumulated layers of dust and dirt. The work was carried out by professional restorers. Unfortunately, some visitors to the Florentine museum harm the majestic sculpture. In 1991, one of the visitors managed to chip off several pieces of marble from the toes of David's left foot.

Description of the statue of David

Michelangelo's sculpture of David is considered the best work art of the Italian Renaissance. The marble youth from the legends of the Old Testament is recognized as a perfect creation and the ideal of male beauty.

The original statue of David has a height of 5 m 17 cm. It depicts a naked young man who is preparing for the upcoming fight with Goliath. The statue of Michelangelo is a kind of innovation, because. the predecessors of the master created sculptures of a hero triumphing over a fallen giant. In the pose of David, one can notice concentration and calmness. The facial expression suggests that the young man is not afraid of Goliath. David's muscles are tense: his left hand holds a sling thrown over his shoulder. From below, the right hand picks up the weapon, in which the hero holds a stone. The figure of David says that he is ready to fight with strong enemy and prepared for him a deadly blow.

Today, the original statue of David is in the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence.

1. David is a character in the Bible. According to biblical story, the young man defeated Goliath with a stone and a sling, although the naked body of the hero contradicts the foundations of a religious book.
2. David in Florence exceeds the height of a man by almost 3 times.
3. The right hand of the young man is asymmetric, and does not fit the proportions of the rest of the body. Many experts believe that this "oversight" was made on purpose to emphasize David's nickname - a strong hand.
4. Due to the fact that the sling is in David's left hand, the hero is considered left-handed. However, the position of the body of the sculpture suggests otherwise.
5. Initially, the statue of Michelangelo was planned to be placed on the dome of the cathedral. Seeing the masterpiece created by the master, they decided to place it in a more prominent place - Signoria Square.
6. Before the creation of the famous David, Michelangelo managed to declare himself as a talented sculptor. Fame brought to the master the work "Roman Pieta". Later, the Italian created the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, and was recognized as an outstanding painter of that time.
7. The pose of David has clear similarities with the sculptures of Hercules.
8. David has many copies. The most famous of them are located on Piazza della Signoria and Michelangelo in Florence, in London's Albert and Victoria Museum, and also in Moscow's Pushkin Museum.
9. In 1857 English queen Victoria was given a copy of David. The queen did not like the nakedness of the hero, and she ordered to cover his genitals with a fig leaf made of plaster.
10. In the 20th century, the authorities of Florence wanted to donate a cast of the sculpture of the Old Testament character to Jerusalem. The authorities of the Israeli city refused the gift, justifying this by the fact that David is depicted as an Italian, and not a Jew. According to the country's religion, Jewish men must have their foreskin circumcised.

Other works by Michelangelo

During his life, Michelangelo created many valuable works of art. In addition to David, the Roman Pieta and the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, the master created the following masterpieces:

Sculptures and bas-reliefs:

• Madonna at the stairs;
• Battle of the centaurs;
• crucifix;
• Saint Proclus;
• St. Peter;
• Angel;
• Saint Paul;
• Bacchus (the first creation of Michelangelo);
• Saint Pius I;
• Saint George I;
• Venus and Cupid;
• Saint Matthew;
• Moses and others

Painting:

• Position in the coffin;
• Madonna Donnie;
• Madonna and Child;
• Last Judgment;
• Titius;
• Cleopatra;
• Crucifixion of Saint Peter;
• Epiphany, etc.

Architecture:

• tombstone of Giuliano Medici;
• vestibule, staircase and reading room of the Laurenzian Library;
• Palace of the Conservatives in Rome;
• tomb of Julius II;
• Palazzo Farnese in Rome;
• Gate of Pius in Rome;
• Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome, etc.

Some works Italian master have been lost over time. In addition, several creations have no evidence of Michelangelo's authorship.

The famous David, whose statue is located in Florence, is recognized as an outstanding masterpiece not only by Michelangelo Buonarroti, but of the entire Italian Renaissance. If you are in this region of Italy, then be sure to visit the Academy of Fine Arts, and look at the famous 5-meter sculpture with your own eyes.

The statue of David by an outstanding Renaissance master (Michelangelo di Buonarroti, 1475-1564) is located in the Gallery (Galleria dell'Accademia) in Florence.

The sculpture, made of a monolithic block of valuable Carrara marble, has a height of 5.17 meters and a weight of more than 6 tons. "David" is recognized as the standard of male beauty and one of the most significant masterpieces of world art.

The image of the biblical king inspired the masters before, but all the predecessors of Michelangelo (Donatello,) portrayed him as the winner, at whose feet the head of Goliath fell. Buonarroti's artistic innovation was that for the first time he captured the hero at the moment of preparation for the decisive battle. The statue depicts a naked young man of powerful physique, ready to fight with a dangerous enemy. His proud head with a mop of hair, furrowed eyebrows and firmly compressed lips speak of an unbending will.

The lines of the body are anatomically perfect, a relaxed posture indicates confidence and strength, a sling thrown over the left shoulder promises a deadly attack to the enemy.
The sculptural image of the Jewish king was commissioned by Michelangelo in 1501 by the guild of wool merchants. It was this association that was responsible for the decoration (La Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore). Florence was rightly proud of the temple, its worthy decoration was a matter of honor for the shop foremen. The statue was to become part of a sculptural ensemble consisting of twelve characters from the Old Testament. This was not destined to come true.

During the period of work on "David" not only creative biography Tuscan sculptor, but also political life republics. Initially, the order had only religious character. But during the creation of the sculpture, Florence expelled the tyrants of the Medici and Michelangelo's "David" became a symbol of republican freedom and the defense of the fatherland from the power of tyrants.

History of creation

The history of the Republic of Florence is closely intertwined with the creation of a world masterpiece. The picture of the medieval world had few shades of free thought, the Italian city-states were a unique phenomenon of that time. Florence never obeyed papal bulls and ducal decrees, only human genius was its immutable law.

The work lasted two years and four months. The master at that time was 26 years old, but he managed to become famous as great sculptor that eclipsed Leonardo himself. Michelangelo took the most difficult exam in his life, for any artist of that time it was important whether Florence would recognize his skill.

The history of the birth of a masterpiece is unusual. Interesting description Buonarroti's work on the statue is given by his contemporary Giorgio Vasari. According to his notes, the master received a marble block already spoiled by notches and chips. The shape of the future statue had to be chosen so that these defects were not noticeable.

There were no assistants, Michelangelo worked alone, moving around a giant block on scaffolding. The work took place in complete secrecy, the place where the statue was created was fenced wooden fence. When it was already almost complete, the master spent four months on the final finishing and polishing.

In January 1504, the leading Florentine masters saw and appreciated the sculpture. An authoritative group at the head considered it worthy to decorate the heart of the city - (Piazza della Signoria). At the insistence of Leonardo and with the consent of Michelangelo, "David" was installed at the entrance to the Loggia of Lanzi (Loggia dei Lanzi), where meetings of the city Council were held. It stood there for more than three hundred years and only in 1873, in order to avoid the negative effects of precipitation and weathering, was it moved to the main hall of the Gallery of the Academy of Arts.

Copies

• The most famous is located in Piazza della Signoria in Florence, where the original was originally installed.
  
  
• Another one is also in Florence, in Piazzale Michelangelo, made of bronze. The square was built on the left bank of the Arno in 1869, it is interesting for tourists, as it offers a magnificent view of the city.
  
  
• There is a plaster copy in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Associated with her funny story: in case of visits by Queen Victoria, the causal place of the statue was covered with a removable fig leaf.
  
  
• Italian patio Pushkin Museum in Moscow also boasts of its "David".
  
  

• The statue of "David" from the place of work to Piazza della Signoria was delivered on a specially designed bull cart in 4 days. All Florence witnessed an amazing spectacle. Several envious Michelangelo tried to throw stones at the sculpture, for which they went to jail.
• In 1527, "David" suffered from political debate - a bench that flew out of the window of the Palazzo Vecchio (Palazzo Vecchio), damaged it left hand. The restoration was carried out by Vasari.
• Florence gave Jerusalem a cast from the sculpture. The gift was not accepted, the authorities of Jerusalem were outraged that David was naked and not circumcised.
• In 2004, Florence celebrated the 500th anniversary of the creation of the masterpiece. In honor of this event, the sculpture was washed for the first time in 130 years.
• A recent study revealed the threat of destruction of the statue from tremors. According to Italian Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini, 200 thousand euros will be allocated for the installation of an earthquake-resistant pedestal.

Location, opening hours, tickets

• The Academy of Arts Gallery is located on Via Ricasoli, 66, Florence (Via Ricasoli, 66, 50122 Firenze).
• The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:15 to 18:50, ticket offices close at 18:20, Monday is a day off. The ticket price is 8 euros, for citizens of the EU countries aged 18-25 years old, upon presentation of an identity card - 4 euros.
• Official website of the Gallery: www.polomuseale.firenze.it. To avoid queuing at the box office, it is recommended to book or buy tickets online.
• The collection of exhibits deserves attention, and other works by Michelangelo are presented: “Pieta Palestrina” (Palestrina Pieta), “Four Slaves” (Prigioni), “Saint Matthew” (San Matteo). Photography in the Gallery is allowed without a flash.

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David is the most recognizable silhouette

Everyone knows that Florence is the pearl of Italy, and millions of tourists come here to enjoy the unforgettable mood created by the outstanding Florentines. And contribution David to the state treasury - 8 million euros per year. Not surprisingly, the Florentines want to get their percentage of this amount, since the government has significantly reduced budget transfers for local authorities.

And how was this handsome David created, which caused a disagreement between Rome and Florence and one of the most copied sculptures in the world?

Maestro Michelangelo captured the image King David focused on the upcoming battle with Goliath. The young king ruled Judea for 7 years, and then for another 33 years the united kingdom of Israel and Judea. He is considered an ideal ruler, which is why the sculptor created the ideal body of David. Although, anatomists still saw the missing muscle under the right shoulder blade on the back of David.

The public was stunned by the perfection of the image of the king, from whose family, according to the New Testament, the Messiah came. Giorgio Vasari wrote that the gigantic statue of David, executed by a twenty-six-year-old “has taken glory from all statues, modern and ancient, Greek and Roman. This David, this majestic and beautiful young man, full of boundless courage and strength, calm, but at the same time ready to deploy this courage to defeat the threat, confident in his victory and in his rightness.

Michelangelo's copy of David, Piazza Signorii, Florence

According to biblical legend, still very young David(then he was a simple shepherd, and then he proved himself a wise ruler) killed Philistine warrior Goliath, defeating him in a duel with a sling, and then cuts off the giant's head. And so, according to the Florentine bibleographer Vasari, Michelangelo created a statue of the victor for his native Florence, for David "just defender and ruler of his people". So the great sculptor with his creation wanted to define the ideal in which he saw the salvation of the offended homeland.

Such a pattern Michelangelo didn't even try to look around. While Raphael and painted portraits, and according to the notes of the same Giorgio Vasari, sculptor and painter Michelangelo “I was horrified at the thought of copying a person if he did not have ideal beauty”.

To make your own cherished dream, the master took a piece of marble, which many sculptors had already abandoned, and they doubted whether Michelangelo would succeed in anything sensible.

One day, the Florentines decided to donate a copy of David to full height, 5 meters 17 centimeters, on September 25, 1995, on the anniversary of the city of Jerusalem, he turned 3000 years old. The Florentines thought it was very symbolic: Jewish King David For Israel. But the city authorities Jerusalem, after examining David, refused, citing the fact that the sculpture is naked, and therefore it is clearly visible that the Jewish king was not circumcised. Jerusalem officials apparently suggested what exactly the Israelites could do with the statue of the uncircumcised king...

Svetlana Conobella, from Italy with love!

About konobella

Svetlana Conobella, writer, publicist and sommelier of the Italian Association (Associazione Italiana Sommelier). Cultivist and implementer of various ideas. What inspires: 1. Everything that goes beyond the conventional wisdom, but respect for tradition is not alien to me. 2. The moment of unity with the object of attention, for example, with the roar of a waterfall, sunrise in the mountains, a glass of unique wine on the shore of a mountain lake, a fire burning in the forest, a starry sky. Who inspires: Those who create their world full of bright colors, emotions and impressions. I live in Italy and love its rules, style, traditions, as well as "know-how", but the Motherland and compatriots will forever be in my heart. www..portal editor

The statue of David, created by the outstanding Italian sculptor Michelangelo Buonarroti for more than five hundred years, amazes Italians and guests of Florence with its grandeur.

This statue has made a name for its creator, who has earned a generous salary for months of its creation. Behind a short time the whole world was filled with its duplicates, which broke the record for the number of copies released. Today, the original building, carved from white marble by Buonarroti, can be seen in the museums of the Academy of Fine Arts of Italy.

The statue became a symbol of freedom and strength for the Italian people, separated in the 15th century internal conflicts and foreign wars.

Creation stories

The Renaissance, which gave the world A New Look on the role of man in science and religion, combined the ancient vision, where the main character of the artistic line is man, as the crown of nature. Therefore, the statue of David, having absorbed all these qualities, becomes its main ideal. It was created during the heyday of the Renaissance, changed masters and location, suffered from nature and human ignorance, saw prominent personalities past, who remotely participated in her fate.

It all started in the mines of Carrara, where they got a marble block of grandiose dimensions. This event coincides with the desire of the wool merchants' guild to install stone characters from the Old Testament around the central temple. They were entrusted with the improvement and decoration of Santa Maria del Fiore, and they decided that the number of biblical statues should be equal to twelve, symbolizing the special attitude of the Florentine people to religion. As planned, all figures should amaze with their scope, creating large sizes. The resulting six-meter material of amazing dimensions was from the first days intended for the second king of Israel.

David is an outstanding biblical character who, from an ordinary shepherd, overcame a difficult path to the throne. Having struck down the first warrior of the main enemy of the Israeli people, Goliath of Gath, in a difficult battle, he still bears the victorious spirit in his name to this day. The guy is often depicted on historical monuments, and repeatedly becomes a central figure in the Renaissance. The young man was able to prove his involvement in the royal family with endurance and unshakable courage and is an important religious hero for many people from different faiths.

Created in Florence by the hands of Michelangelo, the statue of David has interesting story. Her path to center stage state square was thorny and tortuous. The main difficulty was resolving the issue with the master ready to create a masterpiece of this size. On the territory of the cathedral there were already two works commissioned by the guild, which were created by Donatello and his assistant Agostino di Duccio, so they became the first sculptors to evaluate the material and mentally create the future image. After the death of the master, his apprentice became the only candidate for the role of the creator, but in 1466 he also retired. The raw material falls into the hands of Simone of Fiesole, his small achievements in hewing legs made Michelangelo's work much more difficult. With inept movements, he left irreparable marks on the ideal muscular body of a man and forever determined the pose occupied by the hero. The sculptor managed to make a through hole between the king's legs and cut the marble with tools so that in some places the traces are still visible.

For several decades until the beginning of the 16th century, an abandoned giant boulder stood, collapsing under the elements of nature on open area. Many talented individuals were offered to complete what they had begun, including Leonardo da Vinci, who had already received recognition. In his old age, along with the rest, he did not consider it necessary to complete other people's shortcomings and saw the material that had been spoiled for forty years without protection from nature.