Michelangelo s David
Considered one of his masterpieces, the David was created by Michelangelo in Florence between 1501 and 1504. It is made of marble, measuring 5.17 meters tall. It depicts a male nude figure that represents David, a biblical hero.
Traditionally, David was portrayed after his victorious triumph over Goliath. Looking back at both Verrochio’s and Donatello’s Davids, the sculpture was depicted standing over Goliath’s severed head. However, Michelangelo depicted David before the battle. Michelangelo’s David will become one of the most beautiful and ideal sculptures during the Renaissance.
I think one of the reasons why Michelangelo’s David became so famous was because of the way it stood. David is the perfect example of contrapposto. If you examine the sculpture of David, you can see that the body is placing all of its weight onto the right leg, while the left leg stays relaxed. This causes the body’s hips and shoulders to rest at opposite angles, giving it a slight s-curve to the entire torso. The way the body is positioned gives it a natural and almost human stance. Thus, contrapposto was considered the perfect pose for the human figure and is continued to be widely employed in sculpture.
If you examine David, you can see a slingshot in the left hand and a rock in the right hand. The way that the rock and slingshot looks almost hidden can mean that the battle between David and Goliath was won more cunningly and skillfully than with absolute power. David seems to be tense, but more in a mental sense than a physical sense. Much of the body is still relaxed, but you can see that his right hand is beginning to tense. David’s eyes are concentrated on something to his left and his body looks like it’s about to follow his head’s movement, which can mean that David has just caught sight of his enemy and his body is beginning to tense up. The sculpture seems to be depicted right before combat. By placing Michelangelo’s statue in the courtyard of the Palazzo della Signoria, it
Traditionally, David was portrayed after his victorious triumph over Goliath. Looking back at both Verrochio’s and Donatello’s Davids, the sculpture was depicted standing over Goliath’s severed head. However, Michelangelo depicted David before the battle. Michelangelo’s David will become one of the most beautiful and ideal sculptures during the Renaissance.
I think one of the reasons why Michelangelo’s David became so famous was because of the way it stood. David is the perfect example of contrapposto. If you examine the sculpture of David, you can see that the body is placing all of its weight onto the right leg, while the left leg stays relaxed. This causes the body’s hips and shoulders to rest at opposite angles, giving it a slight s-curve to the entire torso. The way the body is positioned gives it a natural and almost human stance. Thus, contrapposto was considered the perfect pose for the human figure and is continued to be widely employed in sculpture.
If you examine David, you can see a slingshot in the left hand and a rock in the right hand. The way that the rock and slingshot looks almost hidden can mean that the battle between David and Goliath was won more cunningly and skillfully than with absolute power. David seems to be tense, but more in a mental sense than a physical sense. Much of the body is still relaxed, but you can see that his right hand is beginning to tense. David’s eyes are concentrated on something to his left and his body looks like it’s about to follow his head’s movement, which can mean that David has just caught sight of his enemy and his body is beginning to tense up. The sculpture seems to be depicted right before combat. By placing Michelangelo’s statue in the courtyard of the Palazzo della Signoria, it