Bargello Museum To Give David by Donatello A Facelift

Curators of the Bargello Museum in Florence have been concerned about the deterioration of the Italian Renaissance sculpture of David by Donatello. Therefore, they are going to restore the bronze statue with a state-of-the-art laser cleaning technique.

The 15th century sculpture of David by Donatello is widely considered to be the first significant sculpture of the Italian Renaissance. This is the first restoration of Donatello's David in a century, and the process will be open to public view as experts perform their magic.

The use of lasers ensures that the gilding and the bronze surface of Donatello's David will be undamaged in the restoration process. The project should be finished by the end of 2008. Donatello executed David probably in the early 1430s. Italian Renaissance art patron Cosimo de' Medici commissioned the work.

Brenda Harness, Art Historian

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