“Michelangelo chose to work on a massive block of Carrara marble that other artists had abandoned because it was considered flawed. Michelangelo altered several of the statue’s proportions: the head and hands are larger to symbolize intellect and strength. Conversely, the genitals are small, in keeping with the aesthetic canons of the time.
The statue depicts David at the moment of maximum tension, just before striking Goliath. For this reason, the David became a political symbol for Florence: a small city-state ready to defend itself against powerful enemies.
The statue weighs nearly six tons. Today, there are three Davids in Florence: the original is housed in the Galleria dell’Accademia, while two copies can be found in Piazza della Signoria and Piazzale Michelangelo.
There are also curious anecdotes surrounding this masterpiece. It is said that the patron, Soderini, felt the nose was too large. Michelangelo pretended to reshape it, letting marble dust fall to the ground to deceive him.
One copy of the statue was sent to London to Queen Victoria. To avoid scandalizing the Queen, a detachable bronze fig leaf was created to cover the statue’s genitals during her visits.”
