David
Full-scale free-standing sculpture • Michelangelo Buonarroti
Style & Movement
High Renaissance
Medium & Technique
Carrara marble; subtractive carving with chisel and drill, finished with fine abrasives for a smooth surface texture.
Creation Period
1501-1504
Dimensions & Format
Approx. 5.17 meters (17 feet) in height; monumental vertical format sculptural round.
Subject Description
The biblical hero David before his battle with Goliath. The composition features a tense contrapposto stance, focused gaze (terribilità), and detailed anatomical rendering of muscles, veins, and tendons. Unlike earlier versions by Donatello or Verrocchio, David is depicted before the combat, characterized by psychological readiness.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good; preserved in a climate-controlled museum environment after historical outdoor exposure.
Estimated Market Value
Priceless / Inestimable cultural heritage
Auction Estimate
N/A (National Treasure)
Provenance History
Commissioned for the Cathedral of Florence; placed in the Piazza della Signoria (1504); moved to the Galleria dell'Accademia in 1873 for preservation.
Art Historical Significance
A masterpiece of the High Renaissance, it represents the pinnacle of anatomical realism and the Florentine ideal of 'virtus' (civic liberty). It established Michelangelo as the preeminent sculptor of his age and redefined the classical male nude.
Notable Features
The oversized head and right hand (designed for low-angle viewing), the intense 'terribilità' expression, and the visible veins in the flexed right arm.
Condition Issues
Historic weathering from outdoor exposure (1504-1873), minor fractures in the ankles (structural fatigue), and a 1991 vandalism incident involving a toe repair.
Conservation Recommendations
Continued monitoring of seismic vibrations, humidity control, and periodic manual dusting with non-invasive soft brushes by conservation professionals.