Patronage in the Renaissance
Images of David
According to the Old Testament, the Israelites are threatened by Goliath, a “giant of a man.” Goliath threatened the Israelites and demanded that they send someone brave enough to fight him, but the entire Israelite army is frightened of him. David, a young shepherd boy, asserts that he is going to fight the giant, but his father asserts, “There is no way you can go against this Philistine. You are only a boy, and he has been in the army since he was a boy!” David insists that he can face Goliath and claims he has killed many wild animals who have tried to attack his flock, “The LORD who saved me from the claws of the lion and the bear will save me from this Philistine!” They try to put armor on David for the fight, but he takes it off. David faces Goliath and says to him, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD Almighty–the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” David kills Goliath with one stone thrown from his sling into Goliath’s forehead. Then he beheads Goliath.
Great story huh? The people of Florence — proud of their Republic — identified themselves with David — like him they defeated their enemy (the Duke of Milan) with the help of God.
David Drogin and Beth Harris discuss the image of David in the history of Florence:
