Gallery of the Academy of Florence

A Virtual Tour of the Gallery of the Academy of Florence

“David” by Michelangelo
“Young Slave” by Michelangelo
“Bearded Slave” by Michelangelo

Highlights of the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze

“David” by Michelangelo

“David” by Michelangelo was completed in 1504 and depicts the Biblical hero David, who killed the giant Goliath with a rock from his sling.

David is represented just before his battle with Goliath, tense and ready for combat, Michelangelo has captured the moment between decision and action, during the war between Israel and the Philistines.

David’s brow is focused, his neck tense, his veins are bulge out, he holds a sling draped over his shoulder in his left hand, and he holds a rock in his right hand.

The twist of his body conveys motion and is achieved with the contrapposto technique developed by the Greeks for their standing heroic male nude.

The figure stands with one leg holding its full weight and the other leg forward. Michelangelo has emphasized the contrapposto technique by the turn of the head to the left, and by the contrasting positions of the arms.

“Young Slave” by Michelangelo

David’s brow is focused, his neck tense, his veins are bulge out, he holds a sling draped over his shoulder in his left hand, and he holds a rock in his right hand.

The twist of his body conveys motion and is achieved with the contrapposto technique developed by the Greeks for their standing heroic male nude.

The figure stands with one leg holding its full weight and the other leg forward. Michelangelo has emphasized the contrapposto technique by the turn of the head to the left, and by the contrasting positions of the arms.

The Young Slave was sculpted in the 1520s in Florence. His knees are bent as if bearing an enormous force on his back.

His left arm is raised to cover his face, and his right arm is behind his back, held by a chain that is not visible.

This figure is among the more completed of the group at Gallery of the Academy of Florence and shows a clear definition in his legs, torso, especially on the left-hand side and his arms. His hands and head are less worked, while the back is entirely unsculpted.

The whole surface gives clear traces of the chisels and scrapers used in the sculpting process.

“Bearded Slave” by Michelangelo

“Bearded Slave” by Michelangelo is a marble sculpture from about 1525–1530 and forms part of the series of “unfinished” Prigioni intended for the Tomb of Pope Julius II.

In the first version of the tomb of Julius II had a series of prisoners or Prigioni” in Italian, planned for the lowest level of the mausoleum.

It was to be a series of more-than-life-size statues of chained figures in various poses, leaning on the pilasters, which framed a set of niches.

The Bearded Slave is one of the more finished of the Rigoni that was carved in Florance and got his name from his thick, curly beard.

The way his muscular torso twists demonstrates Michelangelo’s in-depth knowledge of anatomy. The figure’s legs, slightly bent and separated, are covered by a band of fabric.

His right arm is raised to hold some heavyweight, while his left-hand remains unfinished, but seems to catch the band of cloth. The surface of the sculpture retains many traces of the various chisels and scrapers used on the marble.