Michelangelo’s David undergoing restoration, with a human hand shown for scale.
Michelangelo’s David towers at an incredible 17 feet tall, making a human hand appear almost miniature beside its massive marble form.
The statue’s right hand was deliberately sculpted larger than normal to reflect the biblical symbolism of a powerful hand representing strength and courage. Since David was originally intended to be placed high above the ground on a cathedral roofline, Michelangelo exaggerated the size of the head and hands so they would appear balanced when viewed from below.
Today, expert conservators at the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence carefully preserve the masterpiece, using gentle techniques such as soft brushes and distilled water to remove dust while protecting the centuries-old marble.