TRAVEL I MEMOIR

The Eternal Sentinel

A journey with David

“Nor has there ever been seen a pose so fluent, or a gracefulness equal to this, or feet, hands, and head so well related to each other with quality, skill, and design.” — Giorgio Vasari, the Renaissance artist-architect, and writer was not just a contemporary observer but a critical voice of his time. His words, inscribed on a plaque beside the statue, encapsulate the awe and reverence Michelangelo’s David commands.

I stand before this marble splendor. The heft of eons is etched in the sinews, a quiet tribute to the artist who unearthed him from the lithic womb of Carrara.

Commissioned in 1464, this monumental task initially fell to Agostino di Duccio, who managed only to rough out the legs before abandoning the project. In 1476, Antonio Rossellinotook took up the mantle only to retreat, decrying the marble’s mediocre quality, leaving the slab languishing under the unforgiving sky for a quarter century.

In the summer of 1501, the Florentine genius appeared amid the Quattrocento’s twilight. The 26-year-old Michelangelo was chosen to revive the project. And on a September morning, he was on this divine journey with his chisel — he freed the latent divinity within the stone.

I gaze up at the towering 17-foot David. The veins shine in the projectors, positioned like sunlight, emitting a heavenly glow. The LED lights bathed him in radiance, accentuating his features with divine luminescence. Poised at the liminal threshold between ephemera and eternity — his body twisted in contrapposto, on the verge of coming to life.

David holds the sling’s pouch in his left hand while a stone is tightly gripped in his right hand — the veins appear ready to burst. This humble weapon symbolizes his legendary battle with Goliath, suggesting the triumph of intellect and skill over brute strength, epitomizing the victory of the underdog.

His gaze, a blend of Apollonian serenity and Promethean defiance, meets mine. I stand entranced, and the world around me blurs and dissolves into a dreamscape.

We walk together through the cobblestone streets, the city bowing to him. We arrive at the Piazza della Signoria, the heart of Florence, where David once stood guard, a symbol of the Republic’s defiance and resilience. “Here,” he says, gesturing with his mighty hand, “I stood as a sentinel against tyranny, my gaze fixed towards Rome, a reminder of Florence’s strength and independence. My creation coincided with the burgeoning spirit of the Renaissance, a time when the Medici were exiled, and the Florentine Republic sought to assert its autonomy.”

As we stroll through the crowded Piazza, David recounts his trials. “The statue was beloved by Florentines, but admiration didn’t shield me from harm. In my first year here, stones were thrown at me. In 1527, violent protesters rioting against the Medici family rule flooded the Piazza. Amidst the chaos, a bench was thrown from a window, shattering my left arm into three pieces.”

His expression softens as he continues, “I have faced more than just political turmoil. Earthquakes have shaken me, lightning has threatened to strike me, and pigeons have been my constant companions here.”

“In 1873, they carried me to Galleria dell’Accademia,” he whispers. “The weather and the relentless march of time took their toll on my form, prompting the decision to preserve me for the ages to come. Yet, my spirit lingers in the Piazza, silently watching over Florence’s heart.”

David unravels the tale of Florence’s turbulent history. “During the Risorgimento, the struggle for Italian unification, my visage became a clarion call for those who sought liberty and unity. I was more than marble; I was a symbol of the indomitable human spirit to remind all that despite overwhelming odds, resilience and courage prevail.”

The reverie deepens, and the boundaries between reality and dream blur, losing clarity. Suddenly, a voice interrupts, bringing me back to the present: “Excuse me, can you move aside?” Wincing back to my senses, I look around — a sea of eager selfie-takers vying for their moment with David. I step aside, letting others capture their memories.

People worldwide flock to Florence to see David because he transcends his own form. He embodies our collective aspirations and existential perseverance. He symbolizes human endeavor—the seeds of transcendence that lie dormant within the rigid confines of stone.

In David’s immutable gaze, I discern the boundless depth of our potential — the beauty of striving for our finest creation.

“I created a vision of David in my mind and simply carved away everything that was not David.”― Michelangelo