Why it matters
Carved between 1501 and 1504, David was the first colossal marble statue of the High Renaissance, and the first since classical antiquity. Intended for the roofline of Florence Cathedral, it was instead placed in front of the city's seat of government, where the young hero became a symbol of the Florentine Republic defending its liberty against more powerful rivals and the Medici.
Did you know?
- It stands 5.17 metres (17 ft) tall.
- It was unveiled on 8 September 1504 on the Piazza della Signoria.
- It was moved indoors to the Galleria dell'Accademia in 1873; a replica has stood in its original place since 1910.
Based on the Wikipedia article David (Michelangelo) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
