The cultural fight over Michelangelo's David
Some in Italy are trying to stop what they consider 'debasing' use of the sculpture
Michelangelo's David is among the most famous pieces of Renaissance artwork and remains a well-known symbol of Italy. More than 1.4 million people visit the sculpture annually at Florence's Accademia gallery, according to American University. However, David has become embroiled in several controversies over its depiction of a nude male — and now one of them has struck the streets of Florence itself.
A recent report in The Associated Press describes how Italian cultural curators are becoming worried that the "marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished by the thousands of refrigerator magnets and other souvenirs sold around Florence." Many of these souvenirs revolve around the sculpture's visible genitalia, the AP said, and the city streets often feature "street vendors and souvenir shop operators hawking aprons of the statue's nude figure, T-shirts of it engaged in obscene gestures, and ubiquitous figurines, often in Pop Art neon."
This is not the first time that people have been angered by the nude sculpture, including some beyond Italy's borders. In 2023, a Florida charter school made headlines after its principal was forced to resign following a Renaissance art lesson that featured the statue. But why are new concerns now being raised about the commercialization of David in Italy itself?
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Why is David at the center of a fight?
The director of Florence's Accademia gallery, Cecilie Hollberg, has been working to try to defend David from those profiting off the sculpture's image. Many of these items are "debasing" to the heritage and culture of the statue, Hollberg said to the AP. Hollberg has been taking cases to court, arguing that this widespread usage of David's image violates Italy's cultural heritage code, "which protects artistic treasures from disparaging and unauthorized commercial use," the AP said. The Accademia has won hundreds of thousands of euros in these court cases since 2017, according to Hollberg.
The first instance of Hollberg defending David occurred when she sued "ticket scalpers using David's image to sell marked-up entrance packages outside the Accademia's doors," the AP said. Since then, the director of the gallery has gone after major brands, including GQ Italia, for using David's face on a model's body, as well as a bag from fashion brand Longchamp that highlighted the statue's genitalia.
Other actions have been taken to try to protect similar Renaissance artwork, per the AP, including legal proceedings against knockoffs of "Leonardo da Vinci's 'Vitruvian Man,' Donatello's David and Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus,'" the AP said. But despite Hollberg's efforts, many unauthorized uses of David — and other Renaissance pieces — can still be found throughout Florence.
What is the bigger picture?
The ongoing fight in Italy "[raises] important questions: Should institutions like the Accademia be the arbiters of taste, and do such decisions limit freedom of expression?" Euronews said. This is especially true when it comes to derivative works, Thomas C. Danziger, an art market lawyer based in New York, said to the AP. Danziger noted that acclaimed artist Andy Warhol created an entire series of paintings based on da Vinci's "The Last Supper," asking if it made sense to "prevent artists like Warhol from creating what is a derivative work?"
Some critics "view this as a land grab by the Italian courts to control and monetize artworks in the public domain that were never intended to be charged for," said Danziger. The debate over Italy's cultural code remains "hotly debated because it's unusually broad in scope, and ... essentially [extends] in perpetuity the author's copyright to the museum or institution that owns it," Euronews said.
As the fight over the Italian code continues, other European countries have made similar efforts to protect their cultural icons. This includes Greece, which in 2020 passed a law that "requires a permit to use images of historic sites or artifacts for commercial use and forbids the use of images that 'alter' or 'offend' the monuments in any way," the AP said.
But despite the success of Hollberg's lawsuits, art experts "warn that such an aggressive stance could backfire for Italy, perhaps even costing the country valuable revenue," Euronews said. The hostility "could discourage the licensing of the country's many iconic artworks, a significant source of capital, while also limiting the reproduction of masterpieces that serve as ambassadors for Italy on the international stage."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Major League Baseball is facing an epidemic of pitcher's injuries
Under the Radar Many insiders are blaming the pitch clock for the rise in injuries — but the league is not so sure
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
8 movie musicals that prove the screen can share the stage
The Week Recommends The singing and dancing, bigger than life itself
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
2024 Mother's Day Gift Guide
The Week Recommends A present for every mom
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
So bad, so good: the best worst movies
The Week Recommends These films are as enjoyable as they are terrible
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Palazzo Durazzo Suites in Genoa: a palatial gem in northern Italy
The Week Recommends Live your Italian dream in this astonishing and recently restored palace in the heart of the city
By Nick Hendry Published
-
How Taylor Swift changed copyright negotiations in music
under the radar The success of Taylor's Version rerecordings has put new pressure on record labels
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Fallout: one of the 'most faithful – and best – video game adaptations'
The Week Recommends This 'genre-bending' new Amazon series is set in a post-apocalyptic wilderness where survivors shelter below ground
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Five exhibitions to visit this spring
The Week Recommends From 'subversive' textiles to exquisite Flemish drawings, there's something for every art lover
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
6 fabulous hotels to visit in April
The Week Recommends Stay at a zoo in Sydney, or meet vortex hunters in Sedona
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Eurovision stars weigh politics and principles as calls for boycott over Israel grow
Under The Radar One of the biggest artistic competitions on Earth finds itself in the middle of a widening debate about if — and how — to address the ongoing war in Gaza
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
How 'Star Wars' ripped off 'Dune'
Under the Radar Quite a few people believe that George Lucas ripped off Frank Herbert's sci-fi universe. So does Herbert himself.
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published