Awe — Humanist Art
Approaching Michelangelo's David in Florence, Italy is a journey through history and art, culminating in a moment of awe. As you walk through the Galleria dell'Accademia, the anticipation builds with each step. The corridor opens up to reveal the towering marble figure, standing over 14 feet tall.
As you draw nearer, the details come into focus—the veins on David's hands, the tension in his muscles, and the intensity of his gaze. The statue exudes a sense of vitality and realism, making it hard to believe it's carved from a single block of marble. The closer you get, the more you stand in awe of the astonishing craftsmanship of Michelangelo.
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"As you walk past the unfinished giants, their forms struggling to break free of the stone, it is as if you are walking through a gallery of souls on their way to perfection, until at the end, the perfect being stands before you— David.....triumphant, alive."
--Irving Stone, Author
"David is one of the greatest sculptures ever created. Michelangelo’s depiction of the human form is beyond compare, capturing both the physical and emotional intensity of the biblical hero."
Henry Moore, Sculptor
“Whoever has seen this work need not trouble to see any other work executed in sculpture, either in our own or in other times.”
--Giorgio Vasari, Italian Painter
"Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it."
--Michelangelo