The statue of David in Florence is a masterpiece of world sculptural art. David is the most recognizable silhouette of Michelangelo's sculpture in Pushkin

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

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

The image of the biblical king had inspired masters before, but all of Michelangelo’s predecessors (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 a dangerous enemy. His proud head with a shock of hair, frowning eyebrows and firmly compressed lips speak of an unbending will.

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The lines of the body are anatomically perfect, the relaxed posture indicates confidence and strength, the sling thrown over the left shoulder promises a deadly attack to the enemy.
The sculptural image of the king of the Jews was commissioned by Michelangelo in 1501 from the guild of wool merchants. It was this association that was responsible for the decoration (La Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore). Florence was rightfully proud of the temple; its worthy design was a matter of honor for the guild elders. 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 the creative biography Tuscan sculptor, but also political life republics. Initially, the order was only of a religious nature. But during the creation of the sculpture, Florence expelled the Medici tyrants 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 Florentine Republic is closely intertwined with the creation of a world masterpiece. The picture of the medieval world had few shades of freethinking; 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 eclipsed Leonardo himself. Michelangelo took the most difficult exam in his life; for any artist of that time, it was important whether Florence recognized his skill.

The story of the birth of the 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 block of marble already damaged by notches and chips. The shape of the future sculpture had to be chosen so that these defects would not be noticeable.

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

Copies

• The most famous is located in Piazza della Signoria in Florence, where the original was originally installed.
  
  
• Another one, also in Florence, on Piazzale Michelangelo, is made of bronze. The square was built on the left bank of the Arno in 1869 and 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 from Queen Victoria, the causative area of ​​the statue was covered with a removable fig leaf.
  
  
• Italian courtyard Pushkin Museum Moscow can also boast of its “David”.
  
  

• The statue of “David” was transported from the place of work to Piazza della Signoria on a specially designed bullock cart in 4 days. All of Florence witnessed an amazing spectacle. Several envious people of Michelangelo tried to throw stones at the sculpture, for which they went to prison.
• In 1527, "David" suffered from a political debate when a bench flew out of a window of the Palazzo Vecchio and injured his left arm. The restoration was carried out by Vasari.
• Florence gave Jerusalem a copy of the sculpture. The gift was not accepted; the authorities of Jerusalem were outraged that David was naked and uncircumcised.
• 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 the Italian Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini, 200 thousand euros will be allocated for the installation of an earthquake-resistant pedestal.

Where is it located, opening hours, tickets

• The Academy of Arts Gallery is located at Via Ricasoli, 66, 50122 Firenze.
• The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:15 to 18:50, the ticket office closes at 18:20, closed on Mondays. The ticket price is 8 euros, for citizens of European Union 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 queues at the box office, it is recommended to book or buy tickets online.
• The collection of exhibits is worthy of attention; other works by Michelangelo are also presented: “Palestrina Pieta”, “Four Slaves” (Prigioni), “St. Matthew” (San Matteo). Photography in the Gallery is permitted without flash.

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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, brought up married couple Topolino, 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 it began creative path great Italian artist.

IN biblical history David and Goliath, David first put on a coat of mail, then a brass helmet, and then girded himself with a sword: he was preparing for a regular 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 him 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 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 people's good. 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 he stood under open air 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, over time received two different interpretations. 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 naked David, focused on the upcoming fight 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 caught him right hand. Free hero pose - classic example contrapposto - is already preparing 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 London Museum Victoria and Albert, 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 also uncircumcised!” In Israel, as you know, religion is not separated from the state. There are many religious groups in the country political parties and voice religious figures is by no means 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” - a modern one Russian sculptor Alexandra Demina. A bronze cast statue of the legendary king of the Jews, dressed, seated and holding a lyre, was received by the Israeli authorities as a gift from the Russian charitable foundation Saint 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 ceremony took place. Last Supper. 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. Locals they 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 into, for example, architectural ensemble Okhotny Ryad, near the fountain 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.

Sculptor, painter and part-time poet Michelangelo Buonarroti.

He is the greatest creator and an inimitable master of the Renaissance, which elevated man to a leading place, 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 statue is on display at the Florence Academy. 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.

The young shepherd David, who struck the huge Philistine warrior Goliath with a sling stone, has long inspired sculptors. But there are four masterpieces created by the best of the best...

"David" by Donatello, between 1430 and 1440

The bronze statue of David by Renaissance sculptor Donato di Niccolo di Betto Bardi (Donatello) is the first upright nude figure since antiquity.

The young man David has already defeated Goliath, his foot rests on the head of a huge warrior. The future king stands with his head almost coquettishly lowered in a shepherd's hat with a laurel wreath, as if there had not just been a great battle between him and the giant Goliath. David seems vulnerable, the nudity only emphasizes this. In one hand David holds a stone, in the other - the sword of Goliath, with which he cut off the head of his enemy.

"David" Verrocchio, 1462-1477

Sculptor Andrea Verrocchio's David almost repeats the pose of Donatello's David, but this boy is not modest or self-absorbed. David Verrocchio is self-confident, playful and mischievous. He is clearly proud of having defeated such an opponent and is celebrating the victory.

"David" by Michelangelo, 1501-1504

Michelangelo began sculpture when he was twenty-six years old. The sculptor took on a huge block of marble, which several of his predecessors could not cope with.

Michelangelo's marble "David" is a symbol of the Renaissance. Unlike the “Davids” of Donatello and Verrocchio, Michelangelo’s hero has not yet accomplished his feat. He is focused and tense, he is directed forward and collected, and this concentration is not so much physical as spiritual.

"David" by Michelangelo Buonarroti stands in the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence.

"Davids" by Donatello, Verrocchio and Michelangelo have many copies. In the Italian courtyard of the Museum fine arts named after A.S. Pushkin you can see all three sculptures.

"David" by Bernini, 1623

Masters not only of the Renaissance, but also of the Baroque were inspired by the personality of David. Baroque sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini carved a furious David from marble, swinging a sling. The figure of David, depicted as a strong youth, twists in a powerful movement. Emotions are read unmistakably: anger, concentration, tension and confidence in victory. Bernini's David is now in Rome's Galleria Borghese.

Rita Zheleznyakova