Michelangelo's David

What do we know about the story of the creation of Michelangelo’s David, one of the world’s greatest masterpieces?
As one could expect it all started with a piece of stone. A huge 5-meter-high block of marble stone that other artists had already attempted to sculpt before, giving up almost immediately after declaring that it was too frail and full of imperfections to be turned into something good.
Michelangelo Buonarroti had been living in Rome for a while, when in 1501 he was summoned to Florence for the commission of a sculpture that represented King David. He had the chance to carve the said piece of marble, which was property of the Opera del Duomo, a challenge he was glad to accept.
The young artist, then only 26, was an ambitious and daring character who loved to put himself to the test, so he decided to return to Florence for this commission. After all, there’s a reason if during the second half of the XVI century he became a model to emulate for every artist and was considered the father of all arts. The man was a real prodigy.
He set to work on the gigantic stone inside the Cathedral’s workshop, where now is the courtyard of the Museum of the Opera del Duomo, and with that flawed marble proceeded to create what was destined to become a masterpiece of the Renaissance.
The sculpture was to be installed atop one of the spurs of the Duomo, but as soon as it was shown to the public in 1504, everyone agreed that putting the David so far high up was a pity and it was therefore decided to give it a place of honor in Piazza della Signoria where everyone could admire the artwork, a symbol for the city.
In fact, King David became a symbol of the strength and audacity for the recently formed Republic of Florence, that against all odds had managed to get rid of its enemies banishing the Medici family and taking back the control of the city.
Michelangelo decided to represent David in the moment before he defeated the great warrior Goliath by hitting him in the center of his forehead with a single stone hurled from a sling. The classic pose with both right leg and arm straight while the left ones bent, along with the nudity give the statue the features of a Greek hero.
David’s expression is intent, resolute. His stance is confident and relaxed, still, we perceive the moment of tension that leads to action in the intense look of his eyes and in the veins on the back of his hands, pulsing with blood.
It’s a sculpture that emanates confidence and strength. A true masterpiece, that from the moment of its unveiling on was considered the ideal of male beauty and perfection in art.
In 1872 the statue of the David was moved to the Accademia Gallery in order to preserve it form damage, and it has been towering over the amazed tourists visiting the museum ever since.
Now, imagine what Michelangelo could have done with a proper piece of marble…!