Went to Florence… Met a Guy Named David

Greg Palmer

greg.gabsbitesizeblogs@gmail.com

Well… what can I say… I mean, I’d seen pictures, I’d read a little about him, but to see it in person.

Genuinely, sharp intake of breath, heart flutter… let’s just say, ‘I had a moment’

It is something to behold!

Aside from the fact you get to witness the unfinished statues that Michelangelo was commissioned to create for Pope Julius II tomb (until he redirected funds over a long period and ultimately left the statues unfinished!) although, let’s not step aside… let’s digress slightly…

“The Awakening Slave”, “The Young Slave”, “The Bearded Slave” and “The Atlas (or Bound)” are the names given to the Non Finito… and they are fascinating to see!

The unfinished sculptures are truly magnificent, masterpieces in their own right as they show off Michelangelo’s process.

With these stone creations leading up to the David, you just can’t help but glance over at the main attraction every few seconds. You’re looking at such amazing sculptures, (which look unfinished, but perhaps that state is exactly what was meant to be?!) but you can just feel this presence over your shoulder, this true work of art, this priceless statue to David…

Started when the master was only 26… 26!!!! Subtle notes amaze me further, slightly oversized hands and head as the statue was originally destined to sit high on a cathedral roof!!

It’s carved from a single piece of marble, and after you’ve walked through the Non-Finito you truly realise the depths of this creation, how David emerged from the solid stone… sling in hand, a watchful eye on Goliath…

I can’t give you a history blog, I can’t give you a precise description, I can only give you a feeling, and my understanding of such a creation…

As you stand at his feet, and look up at the sculpture, its size is the first simple point… it’s huge, looking up at the ceiling it feels as though the statue must be 20-40 feet tall!

The detail is so clear that I felt as though any moment it could move, lock the stone into the sling and loose another projectile at Goliath who must be off into the distance somewhere!

I would recommend, in fact urge ANY who have an interest in this kind of thing to visit… Florence is beautiful anyway, but David is something else… it’s beauty pulled focus from anything else… it felt alive, and I could have stayed staring at it for days.

We were in the Accademia for about two hours, one and a half were likely looking at the David.

At this point, I’m not really sure where I’m going with this blog, I’m not sure how it started or how it should end… I can honestly say that I feel ‘different’ having seen it in person, and even writing this, the emotions of witnessing that beauty are still raw within me…