1501–1504Reputable sourceWell documented
Michelangelo's David
On the timeline · around 1501–1504 ·
What happened
Between 1501 and 1504, Michelangelo (1475–1564) carved David from a single massive block of Carrara marble that other sculptors had abandoned. Standing about 5.2 metres (17 feet) tall, the tense, watchful nude evoked the colossal statues of antiquity and was set up in the main square of Florence as a civic symbol.
Why it matters
David proclaimed that Florence saw itself as the equal of the ancient world, and remains one of the most celebrated sculptures ever made. It now stands in the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Michelangelo · Reputable source