David
Michelangelo · 1501–1504
White Carrara marble
Quick answer
David (1501–1504) by Michelangelo is in Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence. David is a marble sculpture by Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo, carved between 1501 and 1504 from a single block of Carrara marble. At 517 cm (17 ft) tall, it depicts the biblical hero David in the moment before his battle with Goliath — not triumphant afterward, but tensed and contemplative, sling in hand. It is displayed in the Tribuna of the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence, Italy, and is considered the greatest sculpture of the Renaissance. World Museum Guide explains what you're looking at and how to see it.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Michelangelo's David?
The original David is in the Tribuna (a purpose-built apse) of the Galleria dell'Accademia at Via Ricasoli 58–60 in Florence, Italy. It has been there since 1873, when it was moved from the Piazza della Signoria for protection from the elements and vandalism. A full-scale replica stands in the original outdoor location in the Piazza della Signoria, and another is at Piazzale Michelangelo on the hill above the city.
How tall is Michelangelo's David?
The sculpture is 517 cm (approximately 17 feet or 5.17 metres) tall, not including its base. This is roughly three times human height. The Accademia's Tribuna was specially designed and built around the sculpture to give visitors an optimal viewing angle, as the scale makes it difficult to take in from close up.
Why is David's head so large?
Michelangelo deliberately made David's head and hands larger than anatomically correct, because the sculpture was originally intended to be viewed from below — possibly from a high position on the Florence Cathedral. Seen from the ground at the correct distance, the exaggerated proportions correct for perspective distortion and the head and hands appear natural. His right hand in particular is notably large — an allusion to the Latin word manus meaning both 'hand' and 'power.'
What scene does David depict?
Unlike all previous depictions of David and Goliath in Renaissance art, Michelangelo chose the moment before the battle rather than after it. David's body is tensed, his sling is loaded, and he stares intently toward where Goliath stands. The psychological intensity — a young man contemplating a giant he is about to face — gives the sculpture its dramatic power. There is no severed head at his feet.
Is the David in Florence the original?
Yes — the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence holds the original Michelangelo David. The replica in the Piazza della Signoria (outdoor), the replica at Piazzale Michelangelo, and the plaster cast at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London are all copies. Book Accademia tickets well in advance, as queues can be very long.