Michelangelo’s ‘David’ Gets Identical 3D-Printed Twin To Save Florence’s Tourism
Image via Italy Expo 2020
More than 500 years after the original David sculpture was crafted by Michelangelo, a team of researchers from the University of Florence has 3D-printed an exact replica of the 17-foot-tall statue. The sculpture was revealed at the Italy Pavilion, in time for this year’s Expo 2020 in Dubai.
Part of the replica, supplied by sparkling water brand Ferrarelle, is made of recycled bottles. The entire piece took only four months to create, a stark reduction in comparison to the three years Michelangelo took to complete his original.
"We have now the most faithful reproduction of the David,” Grazia Tucci, professor of geometrics at the University of Florence, tells CNN. Tucci coordinated the project, which was a collaborative effort between the university’s engineering faculty and Swedish tech company Hexagon.
Nicknamed the Digital David, the 21st-century replica weighs a total of 1,200 pounds (base included), which is 10 times lighter than the original marble.
The project is described as a way for Florence to “showcase [its] artistic ingenuity to the world” by the Mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella. Although the city’s rich art history usually attracts droves of tourists, the pandemic has seen a disastrous decrease in numbers, like many places around the world.
However, Nardella is hopeful that this lifelike replica, a culmination of technology and art, will inspire visitors to see the original as tourism begins to seem possible for the first time in over a year. The Expo 2020 is expected to draw around 25 million visitors, giving the city a more than fair chance at recuperating from the loss of its museums’ usual footfall.
History meets technology as the 3D-printed replica of Michelangelo’s David statue arrives at the Italy Pavilion at #Expo2020. Today, we officially unveil the statue and celebrate its arrival to @ItalyExpo2020. pic.twitter.com/sLxNDK5cz3
— Expo 2020 Dubai (@expo2020dubai) April 27, 2021
[via CNN, image via Italy Expo 2020]
Also check out these recent news
