Falling in Love With David

Michelangelo’s David was unveiled in Piazza della Signoria in Florence on the 8 September 1504 and I would like to share my first encounter with the most breathtaking statue of Renaissance.

Seeing David in Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence was definitely the greatest art related experience I had in Italy. I had been in love with Michelangelo’s work for years and was absolutely ecstatic to finally see the world famous masterpiece during my course on Renaissance in Florence. Although I knew I would be pleasantly surprised to see David, the real experience was so much more magical and intense.

As soon as we entered the hall, he was there in all his glory, raising above the crowd of tourists buzzing around the room like noisy bees. Still, flawless and magnificent in his mesmerising beauty, he seemed to steal my breath away. I literally froze as my art teacher Monica tried to pull me towards the other works of the genius and could not stop staring at the beautiful David.

It was very strange to feel something move inside my chest, that light feeling you have when you just start falling in love with someone. When just for a few moments the world seems perfect and you feel very tranquil inside? It was weird to realise that a soulless piece of marble could move me so much… But then again, was it really soulless? Did not Michelangelo breathe a part of himself into his work of Art? After all, David represents so many things from strength and youthful beauty to liberty and freedom from Republican ideas ands played an important cultural role at the time.

After our class was over, I returned to the object of my admiration, having felt a bit of separation anxiety. I continued walking around David, looking at him from every possible angle, carefully caressing every curve and every centimetre of his perfect body. I simply could not have enough and was just happy to be in the same room with the most perfect man, the greatest masterpiece of Renaissance. Even the annoying tourists, who were crowding just to take a selfie to tick it off from their list, did not bother me -they simply did not exist.

“I have found a perfect man” – I wrote on my FB status when I got home , overwhelmed by the transcendental experience I had…

Story and photography by Slava Noor