David by Michelangelo

The original 17-foot-tall marble statue is currently housed in the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence. It was moved there in 1873 to protect it from weather and environmental damage. A full-size replica still stands in its original outdoor location in the Piazza della Signoria.

Michelangelo worked on the massive marble sculpture for a little over three years, starting in 1501 and finishing in 1504. He carved it from a single, problematic block of marble that had been abandoned by two earlier sculptors. The statue was completed when Michelangelo was just 29 years old.

The larger head and hands were an intentional choice because the statue was originally meant to be placed high up on the buttresses of the Florence Cathedral. From below, these exaggerated features would visually balance the figure. When the statue was instead placed at ground level in the Piazza della Signoria, the proportions became noticeably dramatic.

Unlike traditional depictions that show David after he has beheaded Goliath, Michelangelo chose to depict the moments just before the battle. David is shown tense, alert, and sizing up his giant opponent. The intense furrow of his brow and the visible veins in his oversized right hand emphasize his psychological focus.