A TED-Ed Animation Exploring How Cultural Context Has Affected Our Understanding of Michelangelo’s Statue of David

Educator James Earle and animator Avi Ofer explore how cultural, religious and political contexts have impacted interactions with Michelangelo’s statue of David in the latest animation by TED-Ed. The artistic masterpiece was initially created to be placed atop the Florence Cathedral, alongside 11 other statues of Old Testament figures.

When we think of classic works of art, the most common setting we imagine them in is a museum. But what we often forget is that much of this art was not produced with a museum setting in mind. What happens to an artwork when it’s taken out of its originally intended context?