What is the name of Michelangelo's most famous sculpture, depicting a biblical king? David.
Michelangelo’s David portrays the biblical David, traditionally understood as the young Israelite who defeated the giant Goliath. The artist carved the monumental marble statue between 1501 and 1504, during the High Renaissance, using a block that had already been roughly worked and then abandoned by earlier sculptors.
The finished figure stands 5.17 metres tall and is famous for its anatomical detail, poised stance, and intense expression. Rather than showing David after his victory, Michelangelo presents him before the battle, alert and preparing to confront Goliath.
The statue was originally intended for Florence Cathedral but was placed in the Piazza della Signoria in 1504. It quickly became a symbol of Florentine independence and civic strength. The original moved indoors to the Galleria dell’Accademia in 1873; a replica now stands in the square. Moses is another famous Michelangelo sculpture, but it depicts a different biblical figure.