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On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

David

Statue
1501-1504 (sculpted), ca. 1856 (cast)
Artist/Maker
Michelangelo (sculptor)
Papi, Clemente (cast-maker)
Place of origin
Florence (sculpted)
Florence (cast)

This plaster cast of the celebrated marble sculpture of Michaelangelo's David (now in the Accademia in Florence) was acquired by the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) in 1857. It was presented as a gift to Queen Victoria by the grand duke of Tuscany, after he had prevented the export of an Italian renaissance painting by Ghirlandaio, which the National Gallery had hoped to acquire. The queen immediately presented the cast to the Museum, where it was initially displayed in the Art Museum. When the Architectural Courts (today known as the Cast Courts) were opened in 1873 it was shown there, along with other plasters after Michelangelo, and some of the other great sculptures of the Italian renaissance. This is where it can be seen today, an imposing and and arresting copy of one of the most famous sculptures in the history of European sculpture.

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visit V&A trail: Explore as a family Are you ready to go on an adventure? This trail takes you on a journey through V&A galleries, exploring some of the incredible cultures and traditions you can see. You will discover objects that are hundreds of years old, uncover secret meanings behind animals and colour in art, and learn ...
read Donatello's 'David' Donatello (about 1386 – 1466) created some of the most significant sculptures of the biblical hero David to come out of the Renaissance. While Michelangelo's monumental marble 'David' is perhaps better known today, Donatello's iconic bronze was the first free-standing male nude in this lux...

Object details

Categories
Religion
Judaism
Christianity
Sculpture
Gender and Sexuality
Object type
Statue
TitleDavid (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Plaster cast, painted plaster.
Plaster
Casting
Brief description
Plaster cast, painted plaster, after the marble of original of David now in the Accademia di Belle Arti, Florence, by Michelangelo, Florence, 1501-4. Cast by Clemente Papi in Florence, in about 1856.
Dimensions
  • Height: 541.5cm
  • Width: 213.5cm
Gallery label
(2014)
Michelangelo's David is probably the most famous sculpture in the world, reproduced in countless copies, large and small. This life-size cast was a gift to Queen Victoria from the Grand Duke Leopold II of Tuscany. It was a peace offering, since the duke refused to export a painting which the National Gallery in London had hoped to buy. The cast was produced from a mould made up of several hundred pieces and is reinforced with metal rods.

Michelangelo carved his David from a single block of marble. David, slayer of the giant Goliath, was a symbol of civic freedom for the Florentine Republic. It was used by both the republican government and the powerful Medici family, who effectively ruled Florence. The statue was placed outside the Palazzo Vecchio until 1873. The marble copy that replaced it shortly afterwards still stands there today.
Object history
Given by Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany to Queen Victoria in 1857.
Historical context
Michelangelo carved the David from a block which had already been started by AGOSTINO DI DUCCIO (1418-before 1498). The David was installed in place of Donatello's Judith and Holofernes, outside the Palazzo Vecchio, in 1504. It was removed to the Accademia di Belle Arti in 1873, and replaced by a copy. The cast belonging to the Victoria and Albert Museum was presented to Queen Victoria by Grand Duke Ferdinand III of Tuscany, in 1856.
Production
Plaster cast of David after marble original by Michelangelo, in 1501-1504, in the Accademia di Belle Arti
Subjects depicted
Men
Nudes
David (King)
Summary
This plaster cast of the celebrated marble sculpture of Michaelangelo's David (now in the Accademia in Florence) was acquired by the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) in 1857. It was presented as a gift to Queen Victoria by the grand duke of Tuscany, after he had prevented the export of an Italian renaissance painting by Ghirlandaio, which the National Gallery had hoped to acquire. The queen immediately presented the cast to the Museum, where it was initially displayed in the Art Museum. When the Architectural Courts (today known as the Cast Courts) were opened in 1873 it was shown there, along with other plasters after Michelangelo, and some of the other great sculptures of the Italian renaissance. This is where it can be seen today, an imposing and and arresting copy of one of the most famous sculptures in the history of European sculpture.
Bibliographic reference
Cormier, Brendan and Thom, Danielle, eds. A World of Fragile Parts, London, 2016, p. 18.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
REPRO.1857-161

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Record createdMay 24, 2000
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O39861/david-statue-michelangelo/
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