Statue of Individuality Using reason and logic to think was a new idea. This new idea was part of the revolutionary enlightenment of a new daily Renaissance. To show this new thinking, the Church wanted a beautiful statue of David for the cathedral. For what? Because “David’s strength, courage and youthful confidence were the image Florence wanted to project” (Senatore). By the 1500s, Florence had regained its status as a republic. David symbolized Florence's independence from external forces, both foreign and aristocratic (Senatore). Donatello was the person responsible for making the statue in 1408. But he couldn't handle the size and texture of the beads and couldn't get far. So the marble was left outside because of all the weather, rotting. Until the arrival of an amazing artist named Michelangelo. The church offered him the work and the marble in October 1501. Michelangelo began this three-year project. The Church never offered to help or even asked if he needed help. He worked for three full years on this project in rain or snow, hot or cold and was happy when it was finally finished. Michelangelo showed art from a realistic point of view. Most statues and paintings before the Renaissance depicted biblical characters and scenes or Greek gods and goddesses interacting with humans. These are the old ideas that artistic and cultural revolutionaries and enlightened thinkers were trying to keep away from. “The statue of David showed human strength and beauty without being pious” (Florence). He helped shape the revolution. He showed the human body in its entirety with his extensive knowledge of anatomy and captured every detail of David down to the veins in his hands/arms. Michelangelo depicted David like no other sculpture...... middle of paper......a fig leaf at no extra cost. Whether the image is uncensored or censored; he became very popular (Michelangelo). What does this beautiful image represent for men today? Well, the meaning hasn't changed, it's still the brilliant projection of the ideal” (Sandstead). Works Cited “Michelangelo’s David.” PBS. PBS, April 2010. Web. February 18, 2014. Ragona, Anthony A. “Michelangelo.” : 1475-1564. Np, November 21, 1997. Web. February 20, 2014. Sandstead, Lee. "The Meaning of Michelangelo's 'David'" The Meaning of Michelangelo's 'David' Sandstead, September 5, 2004. Web. February 24, 2014. Senator, Carol. "Statue of David." Florence Web Guide. Florence Web Guide, October 2013. Web. February 20, 2014. Shaikh, Saad and James L. Amodeo. “The Deviant Eyes of Michelangelo's David.” NCIB.com. of Biotechnology, February 2005. Web February 17.. 2014.