ITALY -- THE ART

Florence is intense!

In Florence, there are so many museums which contain so much art it is nearly impossible to see it all even in an entire lifetime. I was on the fast track during my week long stay in Florence and only saw a few of the highlights recommended in the travel books. My aunt Francis and I toured the Uffizi Gallery, Santa Croce Church, and Pitti Palace, to name a few.

On our last full day in Florence, we had an early morning reservation for admission to the Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s David and his powerful (and unfinished) statues entitled Prisoners. I was somewhat surprised that the building style was not the grand architecture of so many other museums and churches in Florence. However, what I was to discover inside was one of the most thrilling experiences in my life.

First, a little history about David. It took Michelangelo three years to carve the statue (1501-1504). He was only 26 years old when he was commissioned to the project. He was given a block of marble that was rejected by other sculptors because they believed it to be too tall, too shallow, and too flawed to be of any value. When completed, David stood outside for 350 years. In 1873, he was moved to a specially built indoor rotunda where he stands to this day.

Now, I will share my experience with Michelangelo’s David. When first entering the Accademia, I encountered the Prisoners and was intrigued by the mysterious figures of men who are struggling to free themselves from the slabs of marble in which they are entrapped. I was studying the pieces as they are lined up in a long hallway when suddenly I looked straight ahead and I saw him, David. My aunt told me not to look yet but I couldn’t resist. Slowly I began to walk toward the 17-foot tall figure of the young shepherd boy David as he was poised to face the enemy, Goliath. There are no words to describe the emotion I felt as I gazed upon the most beautiful piece of art I have ever seen.

At first glance and quite by surprise, my eyes began to sting as tears began to form. I was mesmerized by the details of his face, muscles, his arms and legs, every part of his body is so perfect and life like. I wanted to put my hand on his legs and feet and feel the smooth, cold marble. I wanted to touch his perfect face and hair. Of course, no one is allowed to get that close to David but many people in the rotunda were reverently whispering and most were just standing and staring in awe. I was deeply moved.

Finally, after a long while, I told Francis that I was ready to leave. We moved away from David so we could continue with our tour of the museum. But before leaving, I stopped and turned to look at David one last time. Because I may never see David again, I wanted to burn the memory of him, the moment, the experience, and the emotion into my heart and brain so that I would never forget.

My trip to Italy has changed my life forever. I have a new appreciation for Renaissance art. Could it be that Michelangelo somehow knows that over 500 years after the “birth” of David that his artistic gift absolutely rocked this Okie cowgirl’s world? I hope so!

May 18, 2009