He’s chiseled, he’s sculpted, and he’s famous. He has all the Renaissance ladies and present-day gals lined up at his door just waiting to gawk over him. Reaching about 14 feet 3 inches in height, Michelangelo’s miraculous David is one of the most impressive works of art to this day — and he could use a hand.David Statue Copy Florence Italy

To commemorate the 450th anniversary of Michelangelo’s death, The Florentine Press, publishing house of Florence’s leading newspaper in English, The Florentine, is releasing a captivating book that reveals everything about the fine hunk of man-shaped marble we call David.

For the next 22 days, The Florentine will be hosting a crowdfunding Kickstarter campaign to raise donations for the publication of this one-of-a-kind story, From Marble to Flesh: The Biography of Michelangelo’s David, by Victor Coonin. This opportunity allows anyone with a passionate love for Florence and Italy to contribute to the dissemination of Italian art history on an international level.

Coonin has written extensively on Italian Renaissance painting and sculptures, as well as authored numerous encyclopedia and catalogue entries. This book-length study is one of his biggest projects to date. It details how the block of marble was quarried more then half a century before the statue’s installment in Florence’s Piazza della Signoria, due to patrons’ tiresome search for the perfect artist.

The Biography of Michelangelo's DavidBut that’s not all. Digging deeper into history, From Marble to Flesh recounts the controversy and scandal that exploded over the statue during the 19th century, and how the masterpiece has made its way to the top of everyone’s Florence site-seeing list today.

The book is expected to be published in May 2014, with the Kickstarter campaign aiming to raise $5,000 to cover the cost of printing. Project backers will receive rewards for each generous donation, including a copy of the biography.

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