• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
    • Awards & Honors, Pomp & Circumstance
  • Blog
    • Modern, 18th, 19th Century
    • Baroque, Rococo
    • Renaissance
    • Ancient, Roman, Medieval
    • Culture, Festivals, Music, Literature
    • Art News, Current Events
  • FaceBook
  • Pinterest
  • Italian with Melissa
    • Studentessa Matta Italian Site
    • Learn Italian at home with Melissa
    • Study in Italy with Melissa
  • Melissa’s Books
    • Melissa’s Author Website
  • Store
  • Sign Up & Connect
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Art of Loving Italy

Art of Loving Italy

Art & Beauty are all around us.

Is David naked… or is he nude? That is the question!

March 30, 2023 by Melissa Muldoon Leave a Comment

David-Michelangelo-Firenze-Florence-Naked-Nude-Art-History

Everyone’s talking about David (and now I’m chiming in too)!

What is the fuss all about?
Why is everyone so hot and bothered?


David-Michelangelo-Firenze-Florence-Naked-Nude-Art-History
Michelangelo’s David, original sculpture in the Academia in Firenze

Apparently, someone in Florida just noticed Michelangelo’s 15th-century sculpture of David doesn’t have a stitch of clothes on! They just realized — David, in fact, is stark naked! As a result, a teacher in Tallahassee, Florida, was fired. 

It seems ridiculous, just a big joke…
and I should be laughing, but I’m not. 

(Well, I laughed a bit at the joke below.)


David-Michelangelo-Firenze-Florence-Naked-Nude-Art-History
Michelangelo’s David, original sculpture in the Academia in Firenze

Last week, when three, count them THREE, indignant parents in Florida got wind of the teacher conducting an Art History lesson about Michelangelo to sixth graders, the Renaissance, and the statue of David, they complained to the school board that their children were being exposed to pornography, claiming it was “upsetting” their children. Hope Carrasquilla, the principal, was forced to resign shortly thereafter. As a result of this incident, parents of this school have now won the right to vote on potentially controversial lessons.

David-Michelangelo-Firenze-Florence-Naked-Nude-Art-History
Hope Carrasquilla, Tallahassee principal, forced to resign
after showing the statue of David to sixth-grade art history class

Since then, it seems the whole world is talking about David, the famous biblical boy from the first book of Samuel, chapter 17 of the New King James Version of the Bible, who slayed Goliath and saved the Israelites from becoming enslaved to the Philistines.

For an art historian, it is kind of exciting when a work of art has the power to ruffle feathers, cause scandal and make people think outside their little boxes. But in this case, it seems quite the opposite has happened. Without seeking to understand, folks have fearfully slammed shut the lids of their boxes and turned off the lights.

Firing a teacher attempting to enlighten her students about Michelangelo’s extraordinary masterpiece — the David, is simply absurd!

Seriously Florida, get over yourself, take an art history course, and grow up.

David-Michelangelo-Firenze-Florence-Naked-Nude-Art-History
Sistine Chapel, Painted by Michelangelo
David-Michelangelo-Firenze-Florence-Naked-Nude-Art-History
Michelangelo’s Pietà

Is David naked… or is he nude?
(There is a difference.) 

Art Historian Kenneth Clark made a famous distinction in 1956. He said, “a nude is a work of art that shows the unclothed human to symbolize beauty and truth. To be naked in real life has no positive values.”

And there you have it. Michelangelo’s sculpture of David is nude, not naked. It is not seeking to entice or show off; rather, it represents purity, truth, and moral righteousness. Nothing separates David from his virtuous mission divined by God.

David-Michelangelo-Firenze-Florence-Naked-Nude-Art-History
Copy of Michelangelo’s David in Piazza Michelangelo overlooking Firenze

When we talk about Michelangelo and his art, we aren’t talking about dark and disturbing, terrifying works of art (think Mathew Day Jackson or Hermann Nitsch, Artemisia Gentileschi, or Francesco Goya) that appropriately should be viewed and discussed in college classrooms amongst adults. AND We are not discussing pornography or visual material intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings.

We are talking about Michelangelo — the gifted Renaissance artist who glorified the Catholic Church and was hired by popes to decorate ceilings and carve sculptures of Christ and other biblical figures.

David-Michelangelo-Firenze-Florence-Naked-Nude-Art-History
Detail of Michelangelo’s David

We are talking about Michelangelo’s extraordinary artistic talent to render the human body, the veins, the muscles, cheekbones, arms, legs, all the way down to the toes, so exquisitely and accurately from a single block of Carrara marble. 

We are talking about Michelangelo’s intellectual genius in capturing the psychological drama of his carved protagonists, like that of young David, who stands calm and poised as he faces his aggressor, already confident that the rock he holds in his hand when thrown will kill the beast. We see it in the boy’s eyes, his relaxed pose, and the determined set of his jaw.

David-Michelangelo-Firenze-Florence-Naked-Nude-Art-History
Detail of Michelangelo’s David

We are talking about a work of art that was commissioned to grace the facade of the Cathedral in Florence, but once completed, was deemed so beautiful, powerful, and extraordinary it was placed in the center of town because the people believed THIS David represented the determination, fortitude, and strength of the Florentine people, that often had to stand up to the Roman bully and adversary — just as David stood up to Goliath.

David-Michelangelo-Firenze-Florence-Naked-Nude-Art-History
Copy of Michelangelo’s David outside the Palazzo Vecchio

In a phone interview with the Associated Press, Cecilie Hollberg, director of the Accademia Gallery, where the David is housed, commented, “To think that David could be pornographic means truly not understanding the contents of the Bible, not understanding Western culture and not understanding Renaissance art.”

David-Michelangelo-Firenze-Florence-Naked-Nude-Art-History
Image Credit Adobe Stock

Young people need to learn about the David and the Renaissance. They need to know and understand the importance of this era and the changes that came about by artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo, Botticelli, and Raphael. Educating students about art and culture helps to broaden their horizons and stimulate their critical thinking skills.

For six years, I was the director of the FAME (Fine Arts Music Education program) in the Fremont, California, School district program designed to provide art and music education to children K-6. Introducing Michelangelo and his work was an essential part of our program. The children responded enthusiastically to Michelangelo’s art, the colors he used in his paintings, the natural dexterity of his realistic carvings, and the stories of his subjects.

David-Michelangelo-Firenze-Florence-Naked-Nude-Art-History
Image Credit: The Mary Sue

Canceling teachers… canceling art… and rewriting history simply because a small group lacking experience, knowledge, and expertise finds a curriculum offensive is very dangerous and unforgivable. 

Teachers should be encouraged to use creative and engaging methods to teach their students. Art is a valuable tool for achieving this. We rely on teachers to enlighten young people so they may appreciate works of art that are marvels of human creativity and ingenuity, make us better people, give us hope, and continue to inspire. 

Good news for the fired teacher!

Dario Nardella, Mayor of Florence, has invited the teacher to come to Florence to honor her. His words: “Confusing art with pornography is simply ridiculous…Art is civilization, and whoever teaches it deserves respect.” 

Bravo, sindaco! Bravo!

Now, that’s what I’m talking about!


Share this post

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
Share
Email

Related Posts

Filed Under: Art News, Current Events, Renaissance

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment. I love hearing from you in English or Italian! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to the Art of Loving Italy Blog

Follow along on Instagram @studentessamatta

I believe in dreams. Dreams become reality. (Sophi I believe in dreams. Dreams become reality. (Sophia Loren) 

Dreaming Sophia - a novel set in Italy by Melissa Muldoon available on Amazon in print, ePub and audiobook

#DreamingSophia #MelissaMuldoon #MelissaMuldoonAuthor #IndieAuthor #NovelItaly #DreamsReality #Florence #Art #ItalianCulture
The short walk home! The short walk home!
Il portico della Pieve. Church of the people. Il portico della Pieve. Church of the people.
May the force be with you when learning Italian pr May the force be with you when learning Italian preposition “di”: Matta Set Number 8.

New post on the Studentessa Matta website to help you learn Italian prepositions.

Credere di essere un Jedi Knight? Speri di imparare la preposizioni "di" utilizzando la forza e una spada laser? In Star Wars, the Force is a powerful energy that the Jedi can harness and master. Similarly, mastering Italian prepositions empowers you to wield the language more effectively, enabling you to express ideas precisely and convey subtle nuances. This set covers “Ricordare di,“ Dimenticare di,“ “Proporre di,“ “Consigliare di,“ “Sperare di“ and “Credere di.”

#lepreposizionitaliane #StudentessaMatta #LearnItalianprepositions #ItlaianPrepositionDi #LearnItalian
Una bella serata qui ad Arezzo. Una bella serata qui ad Arezzo.
All settled in. Taught a lesson online. Did some g All settled in. Taught a lesson online. Did some grocery shopping. Catching up with friends. Now having a spritz!
Ora d’aperitivo. Posto preferito! Il prato vicin Ora d’aperitivo. Posto preferito! Il prato vicino al Duomo

Melissa Muldoon © 2023 Built with and Genesis Framework by Bellano Web Studio