Michelangelo's David may crack

// added September 20, 2008 // 31 comments //
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unclepete

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7626093.stm

Michelangelo's famous statue of David could collapse because of its exposure to mass tourism, Italian experts say.

They say the massive statue of the naked boy-warrior is in danger because of its size, shape and the weakness of the marble from which it was carved. But they warn that the greatest risk comes from the footfall of many visitors who troop past it each day at Florence's Galleria dell'Accademia. The experts want to protect the statue by insulating it from the vibrations. This would cost about 1m euros (£785,000). Otherwise David could topple over, engineers from the University of Perugia say.

The warning follows a detailed study of the statue which showed that the cracks filled during major restoration works four years ago - on the occasion of its 500th anniversary - have already reopened. That restoration was itself controversial because it involved using distilled water to clean the statue - which critics argued could damage it. Michelangelo's David has had iconic status almost since its completion at the height of the Renaissance.

At the time it was seen as a powerful symbol of Florence's republican political ideals: David being the youthful warrior who felled the mighty Goliath in the Biblical Old Testament story. Since then it has enjoyed mixed fortunes: attacked by crowds when it was first displayed, then hacked by a deranged painter in 1991. The statue has also acquired kitsch status - its copies adorn everything from casinos in Las Vegas to tacky Mediterranean beach bars.
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31 comments // Michelangelo's David may crack

  • kewal91
  • SDLN
  • unclepete
  • arcticspirit
    • 0
      arcticspirit  

    • They neither need to put it on a more solid ground so that people won't make it crumble from the people going by, or make a cast of it... put it in public and save the original so that people can enjoy it generations from now.

      We just can't loose that piece of art. David is beautiful. Besides it's all atomically correct. I think that art was the first experience I had to see the male body... (geez I am a total geek)

    • 1 year ago
  • themanwithadog
  • kewal91
    • 0
      kewal91  

    • well than all the catholic sculptures are going to have to be taken in and protected... i mean the vaticans value IS based on the historical and aritisc value of the artworks and gold and donations and other things

    • 1 year ago
  • jeffreyak
  • jeffreyak
  • outtheinside
  • smice
  • ChrisWT
  • cantucwearebrothers
  • The_Dreamer
    • 0
      The_Dreamer  

    • I agree with littlesparrow, with the amount of profit made, they shouldn't hesitate to invest a million to the statues well-being.

    • 1 year ago
  • RyutaroPlasticTree
  • themanwithadog
    • 0
      themanwithadog  

    • Surrounding the area with thick rubber foam should stop the supposed "thundering" of the masses.

      I saw the statue last October and queued for some 30 minutes before I had my first look at the statue. I do not recall and heavy stamping of feet as everyone more or less shuffled by to see the masterpiece

      The replica standing outside in the elements shows no obvious sign af being attacked by the weather.

      All the surrounding buildings surrounding the area do show slight signs of wear considering their age but they are constructed of stone

    • 1 year ago
  • rwylie
    • 0
      rwylie  

    • The marble it's made of is meant to be famous for its strength, but it's getting destroyed by footsteps?! There's got to be something they can do to protect it...

    • 1 year ago
  • ahowes
  • littlesparrow
    • 0
      littlesparrow  

    • considering how much media and history have profited from his glory and dashing good looks, its high time they pay him. no nominal value could really ever be placed on the priceless nature of this symbol of mankind.

    • 1 year ago
  • Ryz0n
  • airinmagoc
    • 0
      airinmagoc  

    • it can't just be put in a glass case, the vibrations of the floor is what is causing it to slowly crack...we need to save the almighty david from peril

    • 1 year ago
  • LindseyIndigo
    • 0
      LindseyIndigo  

    • Poor David. It wouldn't do to let his ancient balls crack in the open air.

      But then he's old, incredibly old - surely wear and tear is to be expected, and it's much better for him to be on show for all to see until he's ground away to dust than to 'protect' him by locking him in a dark room somewhere.

    • 1 year ago
  • kaecvtionr
    • 0
      kaecvtionr  

    • I think they should not change or add to it. Do not re-cement of re-carve or any other application you were thinking of. Leave the masterpiece alone, but as suggested add a case to it to protect it for future generations can see it; even though it may cost a lot. I, probably like many others, would like to see it in person; in good condition, in one piece as it was originally made.

    • 1 year ago
  • DrownedFlyingWhales
  • smice
  • arcticspirit
    • 0
      arcticspirit  
    • smice:

      No No NO He is totally perfect, except for that hair style. But hair changes every 5 years or so, now doesn't it... so about 20 years from now that will be the rage, eh?

    • 1 year ago
  • huntre
  • Manatee_man
  • Johnny_Danger
  • arcticspirit
    • 0
      arcticspirit  
    • Manatee_man:

      OMG the redneck solution to David. NO NO NO!
      (but it was very funny)
      Super glue would work too as long as the people doing it were smart enough not to get it on their hands too.

      I was trying to put my glasses together yesterday, I didn't feel glue on my hands, but I ended up stuck to my glasses and my art table! Damn glue! Yeah I know... need more glasses.

    • 1 year ago
  • J_Jammer
  • Brockie
    • 0
      Brockie  

    • It probably doesn't help that the statue stood outside from 1504 till 1873 (369 years) when it was brought inside to protect it from the weather.

    • 1 year ago
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