Basic and Fun Facts About The David!
Who made/sculpted the David?
The truly genius Tuscan artist named Michelangelo Buonarroti, a Renaissance man!
When was the David made?
Between 1501- 1504 (restored in 2003-2004). Michelangelo started the work when he was just 26 years old!
Where is he located?
The original is at the museum called the Galleria dell’Accademia, or Accademia Gallery, in Florence, Italy
How tall is he?
5.17 meters (almost 17 feet, a shy short at 16 feet and 11.15 inches). This is his height, without the pedestal under the statue.
What is he made of?
One single block of marble from the quarries in Carrara in Tuscany, one of the whitest in the world
How much does he weigh?
5,660 kg or 12,478.12 lbs!!! He IS made out of solid marble stone 😉
Did you know that…
The sling on his left shoulder and the tree trunk behind his right leg were once covered with gold leaf? Being outdoors in the elements in Piazza della Signoria for over 400 years washed the gold leaf away :(.
What is the meaning of the statue?
The story of David and Goliath is a biblical one, found in Book 1 of Samuel. The teenage David had to defeat the giant Goliath, he could not be defeated by strength since David was smaller. It took cunning and skill to defeat someone bigger than him, and he did so with the slingshot.
Many statues before Michelangelo’s that portray this story always show David AFTER he has defeated the giant, with Goliath’s severed head by his feet. Michelangelo decided to go against that current trend and portray his David BEFORE the battle with the giant. You can see in his face the concentration of him thinking on how he’s going to defeat Goliath, the rock he has yet to put into his slingshot hidden inside his right palm, the slingshot seemingly at rest on his shoulder and him just waiting for the right moment, pretending to be at ease. He could only defeat the giant if he caught him by surprise!
Are there copies of David?
Yes! The most famous are in Florence but outdoors. The first is in Piazza della Signoria, a copy placed in the exact spot where the original stood for over 400 years and the second one is in Piazzale Michelangelo overlooking Florence. This second one is made out of bronze and not marble.
Was he supposed to be in Piazza della Signoria from the start?
No, he actually was supposed to be on Florence’s cathedral, on the Duomo’s side, way up high where he would have seemed much smaller if we saw him from below. But as soon as the David was unveiled, everyone knew it could not go in that spot because it was a masterpiece to be seen. A committee was put together to decide where it should go and, thankfully, it went in Piazza della Signoria where it could be admired up close.
Want to know more?
Read the full article on Michelangelo’s David to read more history about the creation of the statue, the story of its meaning, see more pictures and more.
