{"product_id":"david","title":"David Vanquishing Goliath Statue","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"text-wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"type-h4 normal-case not-simple:leading-105 text-balance mb-15\"\u003eDavid Vanquishing Goliath\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy Marius-jean-AntoninMersie, French, 1845 - 1916.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst modeled in clay 1872, a skilful study of anatomy and realism, Antonin Mercié’s sculpture depicts the aftermath of the biblical shepherd David’s dramatic felling of the giant Goliath with a slingshot. Mercié spent the volatile years surrounding the Franco-Prussian War studying sculpture in Rome. One of the first works he sent back to France was a plaster sculpture of David resheathing his sword after slicing off Goliath’s head. For Parisians encountering this work at the annual spring Salon exhibition, it was a sign of hope for the future: just as David had overcome a more powerful foe, so France would overcome its recent defeat by the Germans.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sculpture won Mercié a gold medal at the Salon, and the following year he was awarded a Legion of Honor, an extraordinary honor for an art student. The sculpture’s image was widely reproduced in magazines, and the Barbedienne foundry sold bronze versions of it in several sizes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen he created his\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eDavid\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein 1869, Mercié was a resident at the Académie de France in Rome. His ambition was to renew the representation of this biblical episode recounting the victory of the young shepherd in his duel against the giant Goliath. To this end, he placed himself in the tradition of the great bronze sculptors of the Florentine Renaissance, notably Donatello and Verrocchio\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"accordion-panel\" id=\"artwork-description-read-more\" aria-hidden=\"false\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePresented at the Salon after the war of 1870, the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eDavid\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003ewas a great success because of the elegance of its pose and the firmness of its modeling, but also as a symbol of hope for a future revenge of France against Prussia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"KsbFXc U6u95\" data-sfc-cb=\"\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"dF3vjf\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-hveid=\"CAMQAA\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-cb=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\" data-sfc-cb=\"\"\u003eDesign \u0026amp; Composition:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe statue highlights a dramatic contrast between the youthful David and the mature, bearded Goliath, whose head lies at David's feet on a decorated base. It is often described as possessing an elegant, confident pose.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"dF3vjf\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-hveid=\"CAMQAQ\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-cb=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\" data-sfc-cb=\"\"\u003eSymbolism:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eEmerging after France's 1870 defeat, the image of David defeating a giant served as a powerful allegory for the nation's hoped-for resurgence against Prussia.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"dF3vjf\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-hveid=\"CAMQAg\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-cb=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\" data-sfc-cb=\"\"\u003eProduction \u0026amp; Versions:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe original plaster was created in 1869–1870. The French state commissioned bronze casts, with major examples located at the Museum D'Orsa, \u003cspan data-sfc-cb=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eand the Musée des Augustins in Toulouse.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"dF3vjf\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-hveid=\"CAMQAg\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-cb=\"\"\u003eNow reproduced bu Sculptured Arts studio, England, in exquisite Carrara\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-cb=\"\"\u003e marble, with stunning detail through out, and finished holding a bronze metal sword blade.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"dF3vjf\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-hveid=\"CAMQAg\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-cb=\"\"\u003eSize. 110 x 50 x 40cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Sculptured Arts Studio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57116412903807,"sku":null,"price":1190.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0057\/4322\/files\/990A7B99-AA67-4A02-AFAA-9BC3F19A963F.jpg?v=1773333438","url":"https:\/\/www.marble-sculpture.com\/fr\/products\/david","provider":"Sculptured Arts Studio","version":"1.0","type":"link"}