ARTYfacts

Which famous Renaissace sculpture is
receiving it's first "bath" in 130 years?

A. Donatello's "David"
B. Bologna's "Abduction of the Sabine Women"
C. Berninis "David"
D. Michelangelo's Pieta
E. Michelangelo's "David"

ANSWER: E. Michelangelo's "David"

For the past 11 years, conservators have been testing and preparing this iconic sculpture of masculine beauty for it's first bath in 130 years. The seven month "scrub", to be completed in March 2003 entails methods a little more complex then it's creators own remedy of beeswax.

In fact, restorer Agnese Parronchi and the restoration team will initially perform 15 tests to determine the condition of the marble.

The sculpture, completed in 1504 at the age of 29 catapulted Michelangelo's reputation as the foremost sculptor of has age.

David has endured other cleaning's in the past. In 1843, all 17 feet of ideal beauty received an acid-based cleaning. The cost of such an endeavor in 2003? A little more than your standard rubber ducky: $161,000.

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