David - sculpture by Michelangelo, photo, history of sculpture. Closer than in a museum: What the statue of naked David looks like in all its details at arm's length. What is the statue of David made of?

Michelangelo's largest sculpture was David. Its height is more than 5 m. Since then, this five-meter statue began to be perceived as a symbol not only of Renaissance art, but also of human genius in general.

Michelangelo de Francesco de Neri de Miniato del Sera and Lodovico di Leonardo di Buonarroti Simoni, better known simply as Michelangelo, was born on March 6, 1475 in the Tuscan town of Caprese to the impoverished Florentine nobleman Lodovico Buonarroti. Michelangelo's mother Francesca di Neri di Miniato del Sera married early and died from exhaustion due to frequent pregnancies in the year of her son's sixth birthday. Lodovico Buonarotti was not rich, and the income from his small property in the village was barely enough to support many children. In this regard, he was forced to give young Michelangelo to a nurse, the wife of a Scarpelino from the same village, called Settignano. There, raised by the Topolino couple, the boy learned to knead clay and use a chisel before reading and writing. In 1488, Michelangelo's father came to terms with his son's inclinations and placed him as an apprentice in the studio of the artist Domenico Ghirlandaio. He studied there for one year. A year later, Michelangelo moved to the school of the sculptor Bertoldo di Giovanni, which existed under the patronage of Lorenzo de' Medici, the de facto master of Florence. The Medici were the first to recognize Michelangelo's talent and patronize him. From approximately 1490 to 1492, Michelangelo was at the Medici court. This is how the creative path of the great Italian artist began.

In the biblical story of David and Goliath, David first donned a coat of mail, then a brass helmet, and then girded himself with a sword: he was preparing for a conventional sword fight with Goliath. But then he stopped. “I can’t walk in this gear because I’m not used to it,” he said, and took those five smooth stones.

On August 16, 1501, 26-year-old Michelangelo received an order from the head of the workshop of wool merchants in Florence (the workshop was entrusted with overseeing the decoration of the cathedral church of Santa Maria del Fiore) to make a sculpture of the biblical King David. This was preceded by the following story.

Back in the 14th century, the great Italian painter Giotto, who was one of the builders of the Florentine Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, depicted it with marble statues on the roof. 100 years before Michelangelo's David, it was decided to fulfill his old dream of statues. Young Donatello carved a two-meter “David” from marble. The sculpture seemed small, and the trustees of the cathedral sold it to the Florentine government as unnecessary. In order to raise the large statues to a height, Donatello and Brunelleschi thought of making them from light wood, covered with metal for strength, and painted like marble; Other materials were also offered. Doubts and hesitations continued for decades. Finally, the Florentines relied on the power of the new technology, and in the middle of the 15th century a huge block of marble was prepared for the first figure. The order for the large “David” was received by Agostino di Duccio. In his entire life, he did not create a single statue, only reliefs, but he often helped Donatello in similar works. All he had to do was trim the block, and Donatello would get down to business. But Donatello died, and the block remained lying in the courtyard of the Church of Santa Maria del Fiore for many years, gradually losing its marketable appearance under the influence of rain and wind. There is an urgent need to save the people's property. Here the young sculptor Michelangelo turned up and was recommended to the city fathers by Leonardo da Vinci.

Half a century after the sculpture of “David,” the writer and artist Giorgio Vasari described the entire history of the creation of the sculpture differently. Vasari says in his Lives that the block was considered damaged, and Michelangelo asked for it as unnecessary, and then surprised him with the finished statue. There is even an anecdote added about how the head of the Florentine Republic asked the sculptor to shorten the nose of “David”. Michelangelo pretended to shorten it, and the ruler immediately said: “Okay now.” But these are all just legends.

As soon as Michelangelo finished his David, it turned out that it would not be possible to raise it to the roof, the trustees of the cathedral handed the statue over to the city. A special commission, which included Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci, found her a good place in the square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, the palace of the Florentine government. A special mechanism was built to transport the statue, and on September 8, 1504, “David” was erected in front of the entrance to the palace. There it stood in the open air for almost 4 centuries. In 1873, it was moved to the building of the Florentine Academy of Arts, and a copy was installed in the square. Placed in the center of Florence, "David" began to be perceived as a patriotic symbol - the image of the defender of the city. The fact is that by 1501, when Michelangelo began working on the statue, the citizens of Florence approved a new republican Constitution, overthrowing the tyranny of the Medici clan.

The rags to riches principle, often found in American biographies, has received two different interpretations over time. The 19th century version emphasized shortcomings that would be compensated for in the future. If you want to rise to the top, it is much better to start from the bottom: this way you will gain the necessary skills and motivation in order to achieve success. These days we don't learn from poverty, we avoid it.

"David" became Michelangelo's largest sculpture. Its height is more than 5 m. Since then, this five-meter statue began to be perceived as a symbol not only of Renaissance art, but also of human genius in general. The statue depicts a naked David, focused on the upcoming battle with Goliath. The young man is preparing for battle with an enemy superior in strength. He is calm and focused, but his muscles are tense. The eyebrows are knitted menacingly, something terrifying can be read in them. He threw a sling over his left shoulder, the lower tip of which was picked up by his right hand. The hero's free pose - a classic example of contrapposto - already prepares a deadly movement.

There is hardly a statue in the world that can compare with “David” in the number of copies and casts. One of the copies now stands in the Italian courtyard of the Pushkin Museum in Moscow. Interestingly, the plaster copy of “David” installed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London was at one time equipped with a removable fig leaf in case of visits from the Queen.

At the end of the 20th century, Israel celebrated the 3000th anniversary of Jerusalem. The anniversary of the home of three world religions became an event of far from local significance. The municipality of Florence has decided to donate a life-size copy of Michelangelo's David to Jerusalem. International etiquette dictates that “one should not look a gift horse in the mouth.” But it was not there! The Israeli rabbis looked and... were stunned: “And David is naked! And uncircumcised at that!” In Israel, as you know, religion is not separated from the state. There are many religious political parties in the country and the voice of religious figures is not the least important. The rabbis were then supported by the spiritual authorities of the Palestinian Arabs. The Israeli authorities were forced to submit to the religious wave. The gift was not accepted.

However, on October 7, 2008, a monument to King David was unveiled on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. But this was a different “David” - the modern Russian sculptor Alexander Demin. The bronze cast statue of the legendary king of the Jews in clothes, in a sitting position and with a lyre in his hands was received by the Israeli authorities as a gift from the Russian charitable foundation of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The installation of the monument to King David in Jerusalem was blessed by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'

Alexy II. This time, in order to avoid unpleasant misunderstandings, the adviser to the mayor of the city of Jerusalem on art and design, David Susanna, was personally present at all stages of the creation of the monument to King David.

The statue was installed not far from the tomb of King David, under the walls of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and the windows of the room in which the Last Supper took place. The place for installing the monument was chosen extremely well, one might say, similar to the one on which the monument to Georgy Zhukov stands in Moscow.

The monument stood for three days. On October 10, unknown vandals abused him. Vandals knocked off the nose of the monument, stained it with dirt and pieces of cotton wool, and someone stuck a Coca-Cola can into the bronze harp. Eggs were beaten on the pedestal of the monument, and rubbish was thrown over the fence. Local residents say that the act of vandalism was committed by ultra-Orthodox Jews. According to the famous Jerusalem guide Michael King, on the morning of October 11, after the act of vandalism, there was not a single policeman near the desecrated monument.

One can only guess what would have happened to Michelangelo's copy of the statue of the uncircumcised Jewish king David if the Jerusalem mayor's office had accepted the gift from the municipality of Florence.

It must be assumed that in light of the emerging topic of the day and regarding the symbolism carried by the sculpture of David by Michelangelo, it suits the capital of Russia more than Jerusalem. If only Michelangelo’s “David” could be erected on the streets of Moscow!? There seems to be no religious intolerance towards art among Russian citizens, unlike Israeli citizens. Moscow, although younger than Jerusalem, is also a world capital. After all, the third Rome. Moscow does not need to wait for a gift from the Florence municipality. She has her own “David” - it has been gathering dust for a hundred years in the Pushkin Museum.

Michelangelo’s “David” would easily fit, for example, into the architectural ensemble of Okhotny Ryad, near the fountain near the Bolshoi Theater, opposite the monument to Karl Marx by sculptor Lev Kerbel. There was once a park near the fountain near the Bolshoi Theater where Moscow homosexuals hung out. Michelangelo is considered their idol, along with many other geniuses of mankind. However, the main functional purpose of “David” would lie in a different plane. David, armed with a sling, would forever remind the founder of scientific communism to never let the ghost loose again. Otherwise you might get hit in the forehead.

Each city that claims to be a cultural capital in any category has its own globally recognizable symbol. Paris has the Eiffel Tower, New York has the Statue of Liberty, St. Petersburg has the Bronze Horseman. In the “capital” of the Italian Renaissance, Michelangelo’s statue of David became such a symbol. However, the Statue is well known on its own, without reference to the city, era, country or even sculptor. How and why it suddenly gained such popularity, as well as how to see David while in Florence, BlogoItaliano will tell you in this article.

Abandoned "Giant"

In the first half of the 15th century. Almost all the cultural and financial forces of Florence were devoted to completing construction and creating interiors. The general “sponsor” and customer of the interior decoration of the grandiose temple was the guild of wool merchants (Arte della Lana).

Considering that it was the “advanced” Florentine methods of finishing wool that became the basis for the incredible wealth of the city, it is not difficult to guess that the best craftsmen of that time that money could find worked on the cathedral.

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence

After completing the main construction work and creating the interiors of the temple, the guild decided that the incomparable beauty of the cathedral would become even more irresistible if it was decorated with 12 huge sculptures of Old Testament prophets.

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

From 1464 to 1501 Attempts were made several times to create a statue, and each time without success. The Renaissance turn had not yet taken place in the thinking of sculptors, and imitation of ancient models had not yet become a “trend” of the era.

Only Michelangelo succeeded in combining the realism of the depiction of the figure of David with ancient traditions (and taking into account the sketches and work of his predecessors, which is why the marble block became almost “illiquid”).

Florentine hard labor master

On August 16, 1501, Michelangelo signed a contract worth 200 florins with the elders of the cathedral: the 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 quite jealous of the successes 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 markings of the statue had to be as accurate as possible: it would be impossible to redo anything. That is why the work began with the creation of David’s left arm, bent at the elbow - a large pothole in the block would not have allowed it to be done differently.

Standing on high, shaky scaffolding, Michelangelo had to work hard on those parts of the block that could not be touched with a chisel, so as not to disturb the proportions of the future David. These parts could only be processed by polishing.

Michelangelo's contemporaries had 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 bone-piercing cold of winter (the work took place in the open air).

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

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

According to one legend, after finishing the work, he placed a laurel wreath made of polished copper on David’s head. It was not just decoration - thus, Michelangelo emphasized the spiritual connection of his statue with the ancient traditions of sculpture, according to which laurel wreaths, gilding and even painting of 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: whether Michelangelo had adequately coped with his task - to create a more or less decent statue of the famous king of the Jews from almost a waste block of marble.

Michelangelo's David - a symbol of the victory of reason over strength

David defeated everyone. There was no longer any room for jealousy or rivalry - the statue was excellent. Usually a work of art takes time to be understood and appreciated. But the impression that the statue of David made in Florence, as soon as the fence surrounding it was cleared, was like a lightning strike.

Michelangelo's contemporaries had never seen anything more perfect. Half a century later, Vasari wrote that when you see this statue, it is pointless to look for something more perfect - both in the past and in modern times.

The Signoria immediately decided that Michelangelo's David, as a symbol of the victory of reason over force, should also become a symbol of the renewed Florentine Republic, freed from the tyranny of the Medici (as time has shown, not for long).

They decided to install David in Piazza della Signoria, in front of the main entrance to the city, instead of Donatello’s “Judith,” which was a symbol of Florentine freedom until the appearance of Michelangelo’s masterpiece. Transporting the statue from the cathedral to the square was carried out with the greatest care and took 4 days - May 14-18, 1504.

500 years of David's history

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

One of the heavy benches, thrown from the window, hit the statue of David. The result was disastrous: the giant's left hand was smashed to pieces. It was possible to collect the fragments only after 3 days, and they were collected by the then very young Vasari together with his friend, the future famous artist Cecchino Salviati.

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

At the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio there is an excellent copy of David

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

In 1873, the city authorities decided to move it to, a little later adding a special wing for it and other masterpieces of Michelangelo - the round Tribune.

Instead of the original, an excellent copy was installed at the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio. During World War II, due to fears 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 open.

How and where to see the statue of David

Michelangelo's statue of David is still located in the very center of the Tribune. Access to the statue is free, despite the fact that in 1991 a certain Piero Cannata struck it twice with a hammer, breaking off the middle toe of David’s left foot. But now unprecedented security measures have been taken, and nothing and no one threatens the statue, as well as the visitors of the Gallery.

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

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

The statue of David in Florence is the largest sculpture by the famous sculptor Michelangelo Buonarotti. Since the times of the Florentine Republic, this five-meter statue has become a symbol of art and the genius of man in general.

History of creation

The statue of the Jewish ruler was commissioned by Buonarotti in 1501 from the guild of wool merchants who were responsible for decorating the Florentine temple of Santa Maria del Fiore.

The sculptor worked on it for quite a long time - 2 years and 4 months. Michelangelo was only 26 years old at the time, however, he was already a fairly famous sculptor. Having taken up work on the biblical David, he wanted to prove that he could stand on a par with other recognized masters of Florence. According to the memoirs of his contemporary Giorgio Vasari, the master had to carve the statue from recycled material - a huge block of marble, damaged by the previous sculptor. Michelangelo had no assistants, so he created David himself, moving around her with the help of scaffolding. The colossal layer of work of the sculptor is evidenced by the fact that the sculptor spent about 4 months just on polishing and final finishing of the statue.

Master's innovations

Biblical motifs inspired sculptors even before Michelangelo. However, in the case of David, the master showed him to be different from previous authors (Verocchio, Donatello). Instead of the image of a victorious man in the defeated Goliath, the young man appears before us in a proud, relaxed pose, with a sling slung over his shoulder, ready for the decisive battle.

Already in 1504, after the assessment of the statue by leading Florentine sculptors (including Leonardo da Vinci), the marble David was installed right in the center of Florence at the entrance to the Loggia Lanzi in Piazza della Signoria. Here it stood for about 300 years, and in 1873, in order to avoid rapid destruction, it was transferred to the funds of the Academy of Arts Gallery.

Copies of a masterpiece

The statue is so popular in the world that many countries, cities, and institutions also want to see it somewhere nearby.

• The most famous copy of the statue is located in the same square in Florence where the original once stood.
• A bronze copy of the sculpture was installed in Piazzale Michelangelo, also in Florence, in 1869.
• The plaster sculpture can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
• Russia can also be proud of its own “David”. It is installed in the Moscow Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts.

• After the opening, the statue was taken to Piazza della Signoria on an ox cart. Florence witnessed this spectacle for 4 days. Several envious people of the sculptor even tried to throw stones at the marble statue, for which they were taken into custody.
• David still suffered, but already in 1527, during a political debate. Then a bench flew out of the window of the Palazzo Verrocchio, crashing into and injuring the hand of Michelangelo’s creation. Vasari undertook its restoration.
• Florence tried to give Jerusalem a cast of the statue. However, the authorities refused to accept the gift because David was naked and uncircumcised.
• For the masterpiece's birthday (500 years) in 2004, it was cleaned of dirt for the first time in 130 years.
• Modern research has revealed tremors in the area where the marble figure is located. The Italian Ministry of Culture is going to allocate about 200,000 euros for the production of an earthquake-resistant pedestal.

The Academy of Arts Gallery, where you can see the famous David, is located at Florence, via Ricasoli, house no. 66.

Cost of visiting: 8 euros, for EU citizens (18-25 years old) – 4 euros. To avoid standing in lines, it is recommended to buy tickets online or book them in advance.

Sculptor, painter and part-time poet Michelangelo Buonarroti.

He is the greatest creator and inimitable master of the Renaissance, which elevated man to a leading position, making him

A striking example illustrating the idea and flow of that era is the five-meter statue of David, which became a symbol of the entire Florentine Republic and is an ideal in the art of the Renaissance and human genius.

The masterpiece of architecture was first presented in September 1504 in Florence, on the famous Piazza della Signoria. Today, the great sculpture is on display at the Florence Academy of Fine Arts.

The masculinity and concentration in the face of David conceals incredible nobility and strength, and physical beauty is reflected in the powerful torso, ideally designed arms and legs of the hero.

The statue of David was created in 1501, when the author needed to create a biblical hero from a huge block of marble, damaged by the master Simone. Michelangelo's amazing ability to extract maximum expression from stone has borne fruit. After drawing up hundreds of sketches of the future sculpture, making a clay model of the statue, overcoming difficult weather conditions and high competition, the brilliant sculptor created a truly incredible masterpiece. was completed in 1504.

The work is initially embedded in stone, the main task is to be able to extract it.