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Michelangelo's David 'may crack' | Michelangelo's David 'may crack' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Michelangelo's famous statue of David could collapse because of its exposure to mass tourism, Italian experts say. | Michelangelo's famous statue of David could collapse because of its exposure to mass tourism, Italian experts say. |
They say the massive statue of the naked boy-warrior is in danger because of its size, shape and the weakness of the marble from which it was carved. | They say the massive statue of the naked boy-warrior is in danger because of its size, shape and the weakness of the marble from which it was carved. |
But they warn that the greatest risk comes from the footfall of many visitors who troop past it each day at Florence's Galleria dell'Accademia. | But they warn that the greatest risk comes from the footfall of many visitors who troop past it each day at Florence's Galleria dell'Accademia. |
The experts want to protect the statue by insulating it from the vibrations. | The experts want to protect the statue by insulating it from the vibrations. |
This would cost about 1m euros (£785,000). Otherwise David could topple over, engineers from the University of Perugia say. | This would cost about 1m euros (£785,000). Otherwise David could topple over, engineers from the University of Perugia say. |
Iconic status | Iconic status |
The warning follows a detailed study of the statue which showed that the cracks filled during major restoration works four years ago - on the occasion of its 500th anniversary - have already reopened. | The warning follows a detailed study of the statue which showed that the cracks filled during major restoration works four years ago - on the occasion of its 500th anniversary - have already reopened. |
That restoration was itself controversial because it involved using distilled water to clean the statue - which critics argued could damage it. | That restoration was itself controversial because it involved using distilled water to clean the statue - which critics argued could damage it. |
Michelangelo's David has had iconic status almost since its completion at the height of the Renaissance. | Michelangelo's David has had iconic status almost since its completion at the height of the Renaissance. |
At the time it was seen as a powerful symbol of Florence's republican political ideals: David being the youthful warrior who felled the mighty Goliath in the Biblical Old Testament story. | At the time it was seen as a powerful symbol of Florence's republican political ideals: David being the youthful warrior who felled the mighty Goliath in the Biblical Old Testament story. |
Since then it has enjoyed mixed fortunes: attacked by crowds when it was first displayed, then hacked by a deranged painter in 1991. | Since then it has enjoyed mixed fortunes: attacked by crowds when it was first displayed, then hacked by a deranged painter in 1991. |
The statue has also acquired kitsch status - its copies adorn everything from casinos in Las Vegas to tacky Mediterranean beach bars. | The statue has also acquired kitsch status - its copies adorn everything from casinos in Las Vegas to tacky Mediterranean beach bars. |
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