History Of Michelangelo's David

Papi, the skilled craftsman tasked with casting Michelangelo's David, embarked on a meticulous process to create a mould for the iconic sculpture. Over 1500 individual mould pieces were carefully shaped and assembled like a giant jigsaw puzzle within the outer 'mother mould'. The resulting seamlines, still visible on the surface of our David, bear witness to this intricate moulding technique. To preserve the original marble, it was sealed with oil, wax, or soap, allowing the plaster pieces to be safely released later. After several temporary placements, the marble statue found its permanent home at the Accademia di Belle Arti. Meanwhile, Papi created a second full-scale plaster replica, gifted to Queen Victoria as a diplomatic gesture. This replica now resides in our Cast Courts, preserving the legacy of Michelangelo's masterpiece.

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The history of Michelangelo's David took an interesting turn when the cast of the sculpture embarked on a journey to England. Packed in three wooden crates, the transportation cost exceeded the cast's own value. Travelling from Florence to the Port of Livorno, the crates were loaded onto The Cheshire Witch ship. Upon arrival in England, Queen Victoria graciously donated the cast to the newly constructed South Kensington Museum, now known as the V&A. The museum's modern exhibition rooms provided a perfect setting for the colossal five-meter-high figure, granting it a prominent position among Italian art. As the cast was assembled on February 21, 1857, the museum's director, Henry Cole, documented the process, noting the potential risks involved in erecting David's legs.

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The captivating history of Michelangelo's David continued as the sculpture found its place within the Architectural Courts, now known as the Cast Courts, in 1873. Initially displayed in the East Court, David shared the gallery with notable plaster casts, including Jacopo della Quercia's monumental arch from the Basilica of San Petronio, Bologna. Later, David was relocated to the opposite end of the gallery, and in 2012, he assumed a more prominent position along the central axis. The intricate task of moving the cast involved a team of technicians and a specially designed wheeled scaffold structure. During the process, traces of soap on the plinth's lower edge hinted at a previous occurrence where the cast was carefully maneuvered across the tiled floor using wooden planks lubricated with soap.

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The history of Michelangelo's David is beautifully preserved in our cast, a testament to the remarkable craftsmanship and creativity of the cast makers. While our cast may not possess the same level of fame as the original, its significance should not be overlooked. It showcases the immense skill and ingenuity involved in capturing the essence of the original marble sculpture as it appeared in 1847 when the mould was created. Through the use of X-rays, we have discovered that the metal rods supporting the legs mimic the arrangement of human leg bones, ingeniously providing stability to the colossal figure. Papi's thoughtful design allows for the cast to be dismantled and reassembled, accounting for the visible joints that testify to its modular construction. In essence, our cast of David stands as a tribute to both Michelangelo's genius and the craftsmanship of the cast makers, preserving the rich history and magnificence of this iconic masterpiece.

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Papi's original moulds may no longer exist, but the legacy of Michelangelo's David lives on through the efforts of other cast makers. When Papi's cast arrived in London in 1857, Domenico Brucciani seized the opportunity to create a mould from it. He meticulously reproduced David's head, nose, eyes, ears, and lips, some of which are now part of our collection. Surprisingly, the corresponding moulds for these facial features still survive at the British Museum, serving as a source for producing multiple copies of David's visage available for purchase. Casts of David's captivating face can be found worldwide, cherished by artists working in diverse mediums. Additionally, full-scale reproductions of David, crafted in plaster and bronze, grace renowned institutions like The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, The Museum of Art and History in Brussels, The Museum der bildenden Künste in Leipzig, Germany, and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. The global presence of these reproductions testifies to the enduring admiration for Michelangelo's masterpiece

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During Queen Victoria's visit to the Museum, her reaction to the nudity of Michelangelo's David cast led to an amusing addition. A meticulously crafted fig leaf, commissioned to maintain modesty, was prepared for royal visits. Two cleverly positioned hooks allowed the leaf to be discreetly hung on the sculpture. While the original fig leaf made by Papi is no longer extant, we are fortunate to possess a version created in 1857, now part of our collection. This whimsical addition to the cast's history serves as a reminder of the cultural sensibilities of the time and adds a touch of intrigue to the story of Michelangelo's David.

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The cast of Michelangelo's David remains a cherished highlight of our collections, captivating artists, designers, and creatives alike. In a testament to its enduring appeal, the cast was scanned in 2016 for Ridley Scott's film Alien: Covenant, released in 2017. Cutting-edge LiDAR laser scanning technology meticulously captured millions of points from multiple angles, preserving every intricate detail of the statue. This data formed a precise high-resolution mesh, augmented with digital photography to fill any gaps in the scan. A 3D sculpting company then transformed the scan into a lifelike replica using large polystyrene slices reinforced with a metal armature, meticulously painted for accuracy. The film's global viewership has showcased David's prominence, emphasizing the timeless significance of this iconic sculpture and the continued fascination with replication in the digital era.

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