Five hundred twenty-one years ago today, in 1504, Michelangelo’s monumental marble statue of David was unveiled to the public in Florence, Italy.
Standing more than five meters tall, the sculpture depicts the biblical hero David before his duel with Goliath.
The statue was placed in front of the Palazzo Vecchio and soon became a symbol of Florence’s independence and republican freedom.
In 1873, it was moved to the Galleria dell’Accademia for preservation, and a replica was installed in its original location. Michelangelo’s David is still considered a masterpiece of Renaissance art and one of the main symbols of Florence.
