Michelangelo’s "David" is a marble Renaissance sculpture of the hero from the bible who conquered the giant Goliath. The statue was commissioned by the Wool Guild, a wealthy corporation of wool merchants, on August 16, 1501. Michelangelo worked on the sculpture from 1501 - 1504. Although it was commissioned for the cathedral of Florence, the government decided to place it in front of the Palazzo Vecchio

Michelangelo broke from the traditional portrayal of David as hero with the giant’s head at his feet. He instead portrayed the youthful David before his famous encounter. The right side of the figure appears at ease and relaxed while the left side is alert and dynamic. David was the first nude statue since antiquity to stand in a public place. The original is now in the Academia and a copy is in the Piazza della Signoria.