And I still think about David

I finally found an opportunity to disconnect from everything that I have been doing and sip a nice cup of tea (earl grey to be specific). I was just about to start blogging about Edinburgh but for no reason (this happens to me quite often) I started thinking about my travel moments that left me completely in awe.  The first one was Grand Canyon (for 10 minutes, after which I got bored) and the second one was Michelangelo's David (The statue of David from the popular legend of David and Goliath).  This time, I was in awe for definitely more than 10 minutes J and in fact a lot longer. I had goose bumps when I saw this for the first time and gazed at it for almost an hour. I am pretty certain that the people around me had been looking at it for much longer than that.  And I would not miss seeing the original for anything if I was in Florence. 

         Location: Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence /Creator: Michelangelo/How old? : 510 years. It was created in 1504

So what makes the David so special in a place like Florence which is honestly an overdose of sculptures and great art and especially when you are first greeted with a replica of David at Piazza Della Signoria? Many might say that this is just another statue in white marble at the end of the day. And also many others had sculpted David including Donatello (in the Bargello Museum) which I really like as well. So why does Michangelo’s David stand out from the rest?

Well to understand the magnificence of David, a bit of context is necessary. Florence was the place to be when Michelangelo carved David like New York is the place to be today. The stone out of which David was carved was rejected by most sculptors for its quality or lack of one. Michelangelo worked on it for almost 3 years and was hardly 30 when he carved David.  A statue this size was the first of its kind in terms of its size and resemblance to being life like. It is almost 17 feet tall and the precision is immaculate. The statue clearly demonstrates the intricate understanding of human body. It was the ultimate symbol of the Renaissance Man. If you look closely, you can see that Michelangelo carved his veins as well. And yes, that was the moment (when I saw David’s veins) that I was totally spellbound! Also, David’s expression is perplexing. From one side he seems unsure (front), tensed and as if he is preparing to fight Goliath. From the back he seems more confident and victorious. Most people agree to the former expression (including me, primarily because you see his forehead has wrinkles like he is in deep thought) but it is up to you to decide.

Just like the Mona Lisa, David has been constantly attacked. During the time when Savonarola was influential, David’s hand was broken which was preserved by Vasari and later appended to the statue. Also, in 1991 a man tried to damage David with a hammer and that certainly added to its popularity. The David now sits securely behind a glass. But that doesn’t deter its beauty.

I don’t understand art and sculptures. But to admire David I don’t think you need to have an understanding of art. A little history and context might help. David is a masterpiece and is absolutely worth the hype. And I would definitely gaze at David again when I go back to Florence.