Why Michelangelo's Heroic David Is Art's Most Admired Sculpture

Michelangelo's defiant David statue has captivated the world for centuries. Considered one of art history's major masterpieces, the marble sculpture showcases both the artist's skill and the fine art focus that defines the Renaissance.

Since its debut in the early 16th century, artists and art connoisseurs alike have admired the piece. Esteemed artist, writer, and historian Giorgio Vasari noted that “no other artwork is equal to it in any respect, with such just proportion, beauty and excellence did Michelangelo finish it.” To understand why the sculpture has garnered such praise, one must first understand the context in which it was created.

Who was Michelangelo?

Portrait of Michelangelo Daniele da Volterra painting

Photo: Daniele da Volterra via Wikimedia Commons

Commissioning David

Michelangelo created the Statue of David from a single block of marble between 1501 and 1504.

Sculptors Agostino di Duccio and Antonio Rossellino were initially asked to hew the marble block but abandoned it after encountering various difficulties. Then, a prominent figure in Florence, Michelangelo—who was only 26 years old at the time—was commissioned by the Opera del Duomo to carve the sculpture as one in a series that would line the roof of theCattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (“Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower”). Weighing at six tons, however, it was clear that the statue would be nearly impossible to lift. Thus, a committee of notable artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Pietro Perugino, and Sandro Botticelli decided that David would instead be placed in the Palazzo della Signoria, near the entrance of Palazzo Vecchio. There David stood as a symbol of strength and defiance from 1504 until its permanent relocation to the Galleria dell'Accademia in 1873.

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Symbolism

The sculpture portrays David, a biblical hero. In a particularly well-known narrative (1 Samuel 17), David battles Goliath, a colossal Philistine. Against all odds, an unarmored David knocks down his giant enemy using a sling and then beheads him with his own sword. Given David's esteemed reputation, it is not surprising that the Office of Works would choose to feature the figure as a subject in their sculptural series of historical greats.

Additionally, as an independent city-state, the Republic of Florence was aware of the threats that surrounded it. Therefore, they viewed David as a perfect symbol of Florence, as he captured the unwavering courage, unexpected strength, and historic perseverance that the Florentines saw in themselves.

Artistic Significance

Lifelike Anatomy

Photo: Jörg Bittner Unna via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

During the High Renaissance, Michelangelo created figurative works that focused on balance, harmony, and the ideal form. David showcases these artistic sensibilities through his lifelike, asymmetrical posture—known as contrapposto or “counterpose. His realistic and highly detailed anatomy, with lifelike veins and muscles, further affirms these qualities.

Photo: Jörg Bittner Unna via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Photo: Jörg Bittner Unna via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Unconventional Portrayal

In most depictions of David that have been painted and sculpted throughout history, artists opt to portray him as a young boy. They also commonly choose to capture the moment after he has slain Goliath. This approach is evident in well-known works by Early Renaissance artist Donatello as well as Baroque painter Caravaggio.

Photo: Caravaggio via Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Patrick A. Rodgers via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Michelangelo, however, curiously decided to depict David as a young man. He also creatively chose to show him in the minutes before his battle, with a sling in his hand and a look of determination on his face.

Photo: Jörg Bittner Unna via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Scale

At 17 feet tall, Michelangelo's David is clearly a larger-than-life portrayal. Given the relatively realistic scales of Michelangelo's other sculptures, like his Dying Slave (7 feet tall) and his Pietà (5.7 feet), why is David so tall?

Likely, the sculpture's stature is a result of its intended location: the roof of the cathedral. In order for the public to fully appreciate the sky-high figure, it would need to be large enough to view from the Piazza del Duomo, hence David‘s colossal size.

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Replicas

Full-sized reproductions of the iconic sculpture can be found all over the world—even close to home in Florence. To mark the statue's official site, a marble copy has been placed in the Piazza della Signoria, a bustling square near the world-renowned Uffizi Gallery. A bronze cast can also be found in the Piazzale Michelangelo, a plaza with a panoramic view of the city's skyline and the surrounding Tuscan landscape.

Photo: Elnur via Shutterstock

In addition to Florentine locations, copies of the David are on-view in various museums and public spaces across the globe. Notable replicas include a plaster copy in London's Victoria & Albert Museum, a bronze casting in Buffalo, New York's Delaware Park, and a marble copy on the Avenue du Prado in Marseille, France.

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While no reproduction made to perfection could replace the original, these castings serve two important purposes: to educate the public (some replicas are even used as tactile teaching aids for scholars studying the statue), and to spread Michelangelo's profound legacy, both in Italy and beyond.