Most large sculpture Michelangelo became "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 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 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 given to 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 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, 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 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 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 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 a voice religious figures has far from last value. 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, for example, into the architectural ensemble of 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.

There are few sculptures in the world as famous and iconic as Michelangelo's David. From the moment the world saw this creation on September 8, 1504 in Piazza della Signoria in Florence, people have never ceased to admire it. But not everyone knows interesting facts about this magnificent sculpture.

1. David was created based on biblical motives

At first glance, the famous naked man sculpted by Michelangelo does not look at all like a “biblical hero.” But if you look closely, you can see a sling thrown over David's left shoulder, and in right hand he squeezes the stone. Thanks to these items, David defeated the giant Goliath in the famous biblical story.

2. The statue is much taller than a man

The height of "David" is 5.17 m, which is almost three times the height of an average person.

3. The statue's hand is disproportionate

The statue's hand is too large and out of proportion to the rest of the body. This asymmetry is believed to have been intentionally introduced by Michelangelo in honor of David's nickname, "manu fortis" (strong hand).

4. David is left-handed

This can be stated based on the fact that the sling lies on the left shoulder, and the stone is in the right. Oddly enough, the position of the statue's body is more suitable for a right-handed person.

5. The statue is carved from a single piece of marble

A block of marble that turned into one of the most... famous masterpieces in history, proves old saying- what is one person's trash is another person's treasure. Michelangelo created David from a piece of marble that had previously been abandoned twice by other sculptors. Agostino di Duccio abandoned the project to create a sculpture of David as soon as he began to trim the legs.

The cause was the death of Donatello, for whom di Duccio was an apprentice. After this, the block of marble lay abandoned for 10 years. Next, Antonio Rossellino took on the statue, but he also soon abandoned the work after he found a crack in the block. When Michelangelo finally began work on David in 1501, the piece of marble had been waiting for him for 40 years.

6. David was originally supposed to be installed at a high altitude

In 1501, the government of the city of Florence commissioned Michelangelo to create "David" as one of the statues intended to decorate the dome of the Florence Cathedral. But after the statue was completed, Michelangelo's patrons were so impressed with his creation that they decided to abandon this plan and place the statue in the Loggia of Lanzi (and then the statue moved to the Academy of Arts). In 2010, a replica of David was placed on the Florence Cathedral, as originally intended.

7. The statue has always been a delight

The sixteenth-century Italian painter and architect Giorgio Vasari wrote about “David”: “No sculpture in the world will surprise anyone who has seen this work.”

8. Michelangelo's reputation

Five years before the debut of David, Michelangelo had already become famous thanks to the sculpture "Roman Pietà". But it was thanks to "David" that the 29-year-old Renaissance artist became known as a master sculptor. Four years later, in 1508, Michelangelo began work on his greatest achievement in the field of painting - frescoes of the Sistine Chapel.

9. David comes from Ancient Greece

Michelangelo gave his sculpture a pose in which Hercules was often depicted. Some experts believe that it was Hercules who was depicted on the city seal of Florence.

10. David - a symbol of freedom

Although the sculpture was originally commissioned only for religious purposes, while Michelangelo was working on David, Florence expelled the Medici family. That is why “David” became a symbol of republican freedom and protection from the power of tyrants.

11. David and the Vandals

September 14, 1991 Italian artist Piero Cannata crept with a small hammer to the statue on display in the gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence. He managed to break off part of David's toe before museum visitors tied him up. A forensic examination found the Italian mentally insane, after which he was sent to a hospital.

12. There is more than one David

Because "David" is one of the world's most popular works of art, there are millions of reproductions of it on T-shirts, mousepads and other unexpected items. Even Florence has two full-size replicas: one stands in its original location in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, and a bronze replica looms over the city on the cathedral.

13. David was censored

In 1857 Grand Duke Tuscany was surprised by the stiffness of Queen Victoria of England, to whom he presented a copy of Michelangelo's statue. The Queen was so shocked by the details of the nudity that she ordered David's dignity to be covered with a removable fig leaf made of plaster.

14. Tourists damage the statue

More than 8 million visitors a year come to the Academy of Arts Gallery to see David. Research has shown that all these visitors create vibrations when they walk, which damage the marble, causing cracks.

15. Who owns David?

David has been exhibited at the Florence Academy of Fine Arts since 1873. But the Italian government is seeking to regain ownership of the statue by making it national treasure.

Connoisseurs contemporary art will definitely impress.

8 chosen

The young shepherd David, who struck the huge Philistine warrior Goliath with a stone from his sling, 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 Niccolò 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.

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.

The statue of David, created by the outstanding Italian sculptor Michelangelo Buonarroti, has amazed Italians and guests of Florence with its grandeur for more than five hundred years.

This statue made a name for its creator, who earned a handsome payment for its months-long creation. Behind a short time the whole world was filled with its duplicates, which broke the record for the number of copies produced. Today, the original structure, carved from white marble by the hands of Buonarroti, can be seen in the Academy Museum Fine Arts Italy.

The statue became a symbol of freedom and strength for the Italian people, divided in the 15th century internal conflicts and external wars.

Creation stories

The Renaissance, which gave the world A New Look on the role of man in science and religion, combined the ancient vision, where the main character artistic line man appears as the crown of nature. Therefore, the statue of David, having absorbed all these qualities, becomes its main ideal. It was created during the heyday of the Renaissance, changed artists and locations, suffered from nature and human ignorance, saw outstanding personalities past, who remotely participated in her fate.

It all started in the mines of Carrara, where a marble block of enormous size was obtained. This event coincides with the desire of the wool merchants' guild to install stone characters from Old Testament. They were entrusted with the improvement and decoration of Santa Maria del Fiore, and they decided that the number of biblical statues should be twelve, symbolizing the special attitude of the Florentine people to religion. According to the plan, all figures should amaze with their scope, creating large sizes. The six-meter-long material obtained, of amazing dimensions, was from the first days intended for the second king of Israel.

David is an outstanding biblical character who, from an ordinary shepherd, overcame difficult path to the throne. Having defeated the first warrior of the main enemy of the Israeli people, Goliath from Gath, in a difficult battle, he still carries the victorious spirit in his name. The guy is often depicted on historical monuments, and repeatedly becomes central figure during the Renaissance. The young man was able to prove his involvement in the royal family with endurance and unwavering courage and is an important religious hero for many people from different faiths.

The statue of David, created in Florence by the hands of Michelangelo, has interesting story. Her path to the central place of the state square was thorny and tortuous. The main difficulty was resolving the issue of finding a master ready to create a masterpiece of this size. On the territory of the cathedral there were already two works commissioned by the guild, which were created by Donatello and his assistant Agostino di Duccio, so they became the first sculptors to evaluate the material and mentally create the future image. After the death of the master, his apprentice became the only candidate for the role of creator, but in 1466 he also retired. The raw material falls into the hands of Simone of Fiesole, whose small achievements in hewing legs greatly complicated Michelangelo's work. With his inept movements, he left irreparable marks on the man’s ideal muscular body and forever determined the pose occupied by the hero. The sculptor managed to make a hole through the king’s legs and cut the marble with tools so that in some places the marks are still visible.

For several decades until the beginning of the 16th century, the abandoned giant block stood, collapsing under natural elements in an open area. Many people were offered to finish what they started talented individuals, among whom was the already recognized Leonardo da Vinci. In his old age, he, like the others, did not consider it necessary to fix other people’s shortcomings and saw the material, which had been left unprotected by nature for forty years, as spoiled.