2007-01-15 02:03:12 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Sculpture
Yes, it was carved from a single block. And it did not take four years. Michelangelo actually was a fast worker and very prolific. It only took him a year and change to paint the whole Sistine Chapel.
One thing about David though--it was originally commissioned by the Republic of Florence to go on top of the pedimenti of the Duomo, and when Michelangelo revealed his statue, the city fathers thought it too gorgeous to on the pedimenti (some 40 feet in the air), and chose to put it in the square instead. But the commission explains the extreme undercutting of the facial features--it was meant to be seen from below, and at a great distance.
2007-01-15 03:20:03 · answer #1 · answered by sq 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it was carved from a single block that had been previously
lying in the courtyard of the Duomo. It was supposed to be a "ruined block " because the man who had wanted to make something out of it before had cut too deep just about in the middle (Duccio was his name) so everyone thougt it was lost for good. Then Michelangelo won the contest for who would get to sculp it and figured everything out so that David so, well perfect. The place where the block had been cut too deep is under David's left arm, the one holding the sling
2007-01-15 03:45:18 · answer #2 · answered by Genna curious 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, and the position of the figure's arms and legs were determined by the very narrow slab that was used. There was a documentary on this recently where a modern sculptor tried to re-carve david out of an identical slab - and did it very well, too. They then tried to drag it with ropes it as Michaelangelo would have done, through the streets of Florence, on planks of wood. Fascinating documentary but unfortunately I have no idea what it was called...
2007-01-15 02:32:06 · answer #3 · answered by Alyosha 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the statue is 5.17metres high and is carved from Tuscan marble, a single block weighing six tonnes. It took him less than 2 years to complete it.
2007-01-17 06:29:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes - it is a stunning masterpiece...
It took him 3 years to carve it... the story goes that when it was finished one of the church elders (for it was originally supposed to grace the roof of the Basilica) complained about the nose being too large...
On hearing this, Michelangelo climbed up the ladder with a small piece of marble in his hand... he tapped his tool against the piece of marble in his hand, letting the dust fall to the people below...
He then asked - is it alright now?
And the answer was 'YES'
2007-01-15 03:15:25 · answer #5 · answered by Our Man In Bananas 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it was. Even the base on which he stands was carved from the same piece of marble.
2007-01-15 06:43:35 · answer #6 · answered by psych student 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All marble free standing sculptures are carved from one stone.
2007-01-15 02:38:47 · answer #7 · answered by John H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it was one piece of Carrera marble, this however was not his one and only David there were at least two other much smaller attempts.
2007-01-15 08:48:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
One single block of Carrara marble.
2007-01-15 02:12:33 · answer #9 · answered by gaban24 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. It took him several years to do. The first 4 months he just studied the stone.
2007-01-15 02:09:32 · answer #10 · answered by sagegranny 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋