Michelangelo's statue of David: history, features, how to look

Each city that claims to be the cultural capital in any category has its own world-famous symbol. Paris has the Eiffel Tower, New York has the Statue of Liberty, and St. Petersburg has the Bronze Horseman. At the "capital" of the Italian Renaissance of Florence, the statue of David Michelangelo became such a symbol. However, the Statue is well-known and in itself, without reference to the city, era, country and even the sculptor. How and why she suddenly gained such popularity, as well as how to see David while in Florence, BlogoItaliano will tell in this article.

Abandoned "Giant"

In the first half of the XV century. almost all of the cultural and financial forces of Florence were sent to complete the construction and creation of the interiors of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The general “sponsor” and customer of the interior of the grand temple was the Guild of Wool Merchants (Arte della Lana).

Given that it was the “advanced” Florentine methods of decorating wool that became the basis for the incredible wealth of the city, it is easy to guess that the best craftsmen of the time that could only be found for money worked on the cathedral.

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence

At the end of the main works on the construction and creation of the interiors of the temple, the guilds decided that the incomparable beauty of the cathedral would become even more compelling if it was decorated with 12 huge sculptures of the Old Testament prophets.

However, this sculptural ensemble remained in the plans. As remained in the open air in the courtyard of the cathedral and a huge block of Carrara marble, nicknamed the townspeople "Giant" and originally intended for the statue of David.

From 1464 to 1501 repeatedly attempts were made to create a statue, and each time unsuccessfully. In the thinking of sculptors, there has not yet been a renaissance turn, and imitation of antique patterns has not yet become a "trend" of the era.

Only Michelangelo succeeded in combining the realism of the image of the figure of David with ancient traditions (and taking into account the sketches and work of his predecessors, which made the marble block almost "illiquid").

Florentine penal servitude of the master

On August 16, 1501, Michelangelo signed a contract worth 200 florins with the foremen of the cathedral: a statue of David in Florence was to appear in 2 years.

To hide the process of creating the statue from the eyes of the curious - and especially from Leonardo, who was rather jealous of the success of the 26-year-old sculptor, even if he had already created the amazing Pieta - Michelangelo surrounded the place of work with a high fence.

The block had a lot of damage, and the layout of the statue had to be as accurate as possible: it would be impossible to remake anything. That is why the work began with the creation of David's left arm, bent at the elbow - to do otherwise would not allow a large pothole in the block.

Standing on the high shaky forests, Michelangelo had to work hard on those parts of the block that could not be touched by a chisel, so as not to upset the proportions of the future David. These parts could only be polished.

Michelangelo’s contemporaries have never seen anything more perfect

He worked on David alone, without apprentices, day and night, and under the scorching rays of the summer sun, and in the cold winter piercing to the bones (the work went on under the open sky).

Michelangelo forged tools for himself, but the cutters quickly became dull from intense work - and he again inflated the blacksmith's forge. It was hard labor, but also a kind of exam for the young master. What is Rome there - it was important for Michelangelo to be recognized by Florence!

The work took 2 years, as indicated in the contract. But for 4 months, Michelangelo polished the statue, giving it a complete and perfect look.

According to one legend, after finishing work, he planted a laurel wreath of polished copper on David's head. It was not just a decoration - thus, Michelangelo emphasized the spiritual connection of his statue with the ancient traditions of sculpture, according to which a laurel wreath, gilding and even decorating the statues were in the order of things.

Perfect beauty in the service of the republic

On January 25, 1504, the best of the best masters of Florence gathered at the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore: artists Leonardo, Botticelli, Perugino, Filippino Lippi, architects Antonio and Giuliano Sangallo, sculptors Andrea della Robbia and Andrea Sansovino.

They had to make an important decision: did Michelangelo adequately cope with his task - to create almost from a waste block of marble a more or less decent statue of the illustrious Jewish king.

Michelangelo's David - a symbol of the victory of the mind over power

David smote everyone. There was no more room for jealousy or rivalry - the statue was excellent. Typically, a work of art takes time to comprehend and acknowledge. But the impression made by the statue of David in Florence, barely dismantled the fence surrounding it, was like a lightning strike.

Michelangelo’s contemporaries have never seen anything more perfect. Half a century later, Vasari wrote that when you see this statue, it makes no sense to look for something more perfect - both in the past and in the present.

Signoria immediately decided that David michelangelo, as a symbol of the victory of reason over power, it should also become a symbol of the renewed Florentine Republic, rid of the tyranny of the Medici (as time has shown, not for long).

They decided to install David in Piazza Signoria, in front of the main entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio, instead of the “Judith” Donatello, the former symbol of Florentine freedom until the appearance of Michelangelo’s masterpiece. The statue was transported from the cathedral to the square with the greatest care and took 4 days - May 14-18, 1504.

500 years of the history of David

In 1527, during the uprising in Florence, as a result of which the Medici again returned to power, the defenders of the republic, hiding in the Palazzo Vecchio, defended themselves from the attackers with everything that came to hand.

One of the heavy benches launched from the window landed in a statue of David. The result was deplorable: the giant's left arm was shattered. It was possible to collect the fragments only after 3 days, and then the very young Vasari then collected them together with a friend, the future famous artist Chekkino Salviati.

But the restoration of the statue of Vasari was possible only 16 years later, in 1543, by order of Cosimo I of Medici, who wished to appease the freedom-loving Florentines with a merciful gesture towards the symbol of the hated republic.

At the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio, an excellent copy of David

Rains, heat, dust have been harassing the statue for centuries. In the 19th century, 2 extremely unsuccessful restorations were carried out: as a result of the first, the statue of David by Michelangelo was covered with wax, during the second, the wax was washed off along with an old patina that protected the marble from destruction.

In 1873, the city authorities decided to transfer it to the Academy Gallery, a little later attaching for her and other Michelangelo's masterpieces a special wing - the round Tribune.

Instead of the original, an excellent copy was installed at the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio. During the Second World War, due to fear that Florence would lose its symbol during the bombing, an additional sarcophagus was built over the statue. After the war, it was dismantled, and access to David was again opened.

How and where to see the statue of David

The statue of David by Michelangelo is still in the Academy Gallery, in the very center of the Tribune. Access to the statue is free, despite the fact that in 1991 a certain Pierrot Cannata hit her with a hammer, knocking off the middle toe of David's left foot. But now unprecedented security measures have been taken, and the statue, like the visitors to the Gallery, is not in danger.

The Academy Gallery is open daily - from Tuesday to Sunday - from 8:15 to 18:50. On Mondays, as well as January 1, May 1 and December 25, the Gallery is closed.

Tickets can be purchased on the spot, but often, and especially during the season of school trips, the queue at the box office can take from 1 to 3 precious hours.

Statue of David at the Academy Gallery

To save time and bypass the queue, it makes sense to purchase tickets in advance via the Internet. This can be done on the popular tourist portal WeekendinItaly, where, in addition to tickets to the Academy Gallery, you can book an admission without a queue to many other popular attractions in Italy.

Passing visitors and selling tickets ends an hour before the museum closes. Michelangelo's David is visible from afar, but in order to get to him without interference through the enfilade leading to the Tribune, it is better to come early to the opening of the Gallery. Perfect masculine beauty in a modern diverse lighting is worth seeing as close as possible.

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