I was not prepared for the size. I had seen pictures, had read up articles which told me what to expect, I had had a similar experience before, but I just wasn't prepared. Wasn't prepared for the size, the beauty, the sheer perfection that is Michelangelo's David.
David stands tall at the Accademia Gallery in Florence. There is a replica available at the Piazza della Signoria, which is now largely ignored. Tourists make a beeline for the Accademia almost as soon as they land in Florence.
We had reserved tickets a couple of months in advance, which helped us avoid the line. It does cost €3 extra, but it definitely beats having to wait for an hour or more. We used the excellent Select Italy site for all our reservations for the various museums and other sites of interest in the country.
Almost everyone rushes past the other sculptures and paintings to view the star of the Accademia, but we wanted to take our time and savour the suspense a bit. We spent the first few minutes admiring the plaster study for The Rape of the Sabines, and the other paintings by Botticelli, Perugino, et al. A long hallway came up next, which featured four of Michelangelo's nonfiniti, or unfinished sculptures, titled Slaves. He had also started on a sculpture of St Matthew, which stands next to the four Slaves. Sindha took her time looking at these sculptures, but I couldn't control myself anymore. David was looming up ahead.
If you include the base, David stands at a colossal 15ft, towering over Goliaths in the crowd below. I was not prepared for the size, nor for the perfectionism of Michelangelo. Take a look at David's right hand for instance, at the veins standing out, fingers holding the stone for his sling. Look at the intensity in his eyes as he stares to his left, presumably at his enemy, later taken as staring towards Rome.
I spent forty minutes looking at David. I took over a hundred pictures. I walked around him multiple times. I watched other people looking at him, trying to find things that I hadn't spotted. I read up articles on Michelangelo and David, wanting to know more. I was awestruck. I was blown away. I cried.
I do not know why the sculpture moved me so much. The last time this happened was when I saw the Taj for the first time, almost twenty five years ago. I still do not know why I had cried when I saw that stunning monument. It was perhaps the most beautiful work of art I had ever seen. Up until this April morning in Florence, when I saw a masterpiece by one of the world's most famous artists.
Art is magical. Art is powerful. Art can move you to tears. I have learned that now.
David stands tall at the Accademia Gallery in Florence. There is a replica available at the Piazza della Signoria, which is now largely ignored. Tourists make a beeline for the Accademia almost as soon as they land in Florence.
We had reserved tickets a couple of months in advance, which helped us avoid the line. It does cost €3 extra, but it definitely beats having to wait for an hour or more. We used the excellent Select Italy site for all our reservations for the various museums and other sites of interest in the country.Almost everyone rushes past the other sculptures and paintings to view the star of the Accademia, but we wanted to take our time and savour the suspense a bit. We spent the first few minutes admiring the plaster study for The Rape of the Sabines, and the other paintings by Botticelli, Perugino, et al. A long hallway came up next, which featured four of Michelangelo's nonfiniti, or unfinished sculptures, titled Slaves. He had also started on a sculpture of St Matthew, which stands next to the four Slaves. Sindha took her time looking at these sculptures, but I couldn't control myself anymore. David was looming up ahead.
If you include the base, David stands at a colossal 15ft, towering over Goliaths in the crowd below. I was not prepared for the size, nor for the perfectionism of Michelangelo. Take a look at David's right hand for instance, at the veins standing out, fingers holding the stone for his sling. Look at the intensity in his eyes as he stares to his left, presumably at his enemy, later taken as staring towards Rome.
I spent forty minutes looking at David. I took over a hundred pictures. I walked around him multiple times. I watched other people looking at him, trying to find things that I hadn't spotted. I read up articles on Michelangelo and David, wanting to know more. I was awestruck. I was blown away. I cried.
I do not know why the sculpture moved me so much. The last time this happened was when I saw the Taj for the first time, almost twenty five years ago. I still do not know why I had cried when I saw that stunning monument. It was perhaps the most beautiful work of art I had ever seen. Up until this April morning in Florence, when I saw a masterpiece by one of the world's most famous artists.
Art is magical. Art is powerful. Art can move you to tears. I have learned that now.
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