Michelangelo was born on March 6th, 1475, in Caprese, Italy, a small town outside of Floren

"When I returned to Florence, I found myself famous. The City Council asked me to carve a colossal David from a nineteen-foot block of marble -- and damaged to boot! I locked myself away in a workshop behind the cathedral, hammered and chiseled at the towering block for three long years. In spite of the opposition of a committee of fellow artists, I insisted that the figure should stand before the Palazzo Vecchio, as a symbol of our Republic. I had my way. Archways were torn down, narrow streets widened...it took forty men five days to move it.”

Upon arriving at Rome he produced his first life-size statue, Bacchus, and at age 21 was commissioned by Cardinal Jean de Villiers de la Groslaye to create a statue depicting the Virgin Mary grieving over the dead Jesus. This magnificent sculpture was completed and was called the Pietà. At the age of 23, this made Michelangelo famous. After several years of political chaos and confusion, a republic was once again reinstated in Florence. Michelangelo granted the order of the establishment his unconditional support, which he also integrated into his work as an expression of his own political orientation.

“Once in place, all Florence was astounded. A civic hero, he was a warning...whoever governed Florence should govern justly and defend it bravely. Eyes watchful...the neck of a bull...hands of a killer...the body, a reservoir of energy. He stands poised to strike."

Michelangelo presented his version of David differently than most other artists; as an athletic, manly character, very concentrated and prepared to fight. Unlike Verrochio’s and Donatello’s Davids, whose were depicted after their victories over Goliath, standing over Goliath’s severed head, Michelangelo decided to depict David before the battle; in the moment where his people are hesitating and Goliath is mocking him, with tension and emotion evident in every vein and muscle (figure a). Half ideal man, half adolescent youth, Michelangelo poses David at the moment he faces the giant, his enemy, Goliath. Irving Stone is somewhat more specific in stating that David is depicted at the exact moment that he decides to engage Goliath. Michelangelo believed that this was David’s moment of ultimate courage.

When the completed statue of David was erected on the square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, the Florentine town hall, the people of Florence quickly identified with him, looking at the statue as a symbol of courage and strength. As stated above, the statue had intended political connotations for the city. It eventually became the symbol of Florence itself.

Cast over his shoulder is David’s sling, almost invisible; representing that David’s victory was one of cleverness rather than sheer force. The other weapon which he uses, a rock, is grasped firmly in his right hand, which is

Some topics in this essay:
Frederick Hartt, Goliath Michelangelo, Operai Michelangelo, Goliath David, Greeks Romans, Donatello’s Davids, Furthermore Michelangelo, Vecchio Florentine, City Council, Charles VIII, statue david, palazzo vecchio, florence” father mayor, florence” father, renaissance art, huge chunk, father mayor, symbol city, david erected, michelangelo wrote, people florence,