David - Michelangelo's Masterpiece - Has a Checkered Past

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Photo by panocho1000

The Bible’s King David, who may have been an ancestor of Jesus and is considered the greatest king in ancient history and the first Alpha Male in history, had a challenging and remarkable journey to greatness.

Similar to the biblical king, Michelangelo’s masterpiece, David, also has an intriguing and eventful past.

The Rock That Would Become a King

The large block of marble that would eventually transform into King David was quarried over 40 years before Michelangelo took possession of it. It was originally intended for sculptor Agostino di Duccio, an assistant to Donatello.

Di Duccio did envision a statue of David in the piece, but we cannot know exactly what it would have looked like as he stopped working on it after two years, claiming that the marble was too difficult to sculpt.

Waiting for Greatness

The partially sculpted block of stone remained unused for many years until Antonio Rossellino attempted to work on it in 1474. However, he gave up after only a few months, stating that the marble was too challenging to work with.

Finally, in the year 1501, an unknown 26-year-old assistant sculptor was given the abandoned and damaged piece to practice on. This assistant was none other than Michelangelo, who boldly believed that he could complete the David without significantly reducing the size or adding any additional pieces to the block.

Many people laughed at him (I’m assuming 😉 )

A King Is Reborn

Michelangelo accomplished the creation of one of the world’s greatest masterpieces in just three years.

His contemporaries were so amazed by his work that they immediately placed the statue in a position of honor at the entrance of the Palazzo Vecchio.

The statue remained in that location, enduring wind, weather, and other elements, and accessible to the public, for 350 years! So much for the “inferior” marble.

In 1873, David was finally moved indoors to its current home, the Accademia Gallery in Florence, where it is protected and draws countless visitors every day.

Long Live the King

David stands at an impressive height of 5.17 meters (17 feet). Truly a king indeed.

Manuel Marino

Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME