Milwaukee Art Museum Gets a David for Italian Art Blockbuster

Milwaukee's David replica.

If it seems strange and impossible to visit Michelangelo’s David in Milwaukee, that’s because it is. Running across a life-size replica, however? Perfectly feasible. After years of being featured in the Wisconsin metropolis’s annual Festa Italiana celebration, a David copycat is finally taking a turn at the Milwaukee Art Museum, reports WISN.

The faux-Renaissance sculpture will visit the museum in celebration of the exhibition “Of Heaven and Earth: 500 Years of Italian Painting from Glasgow Museums,” which opened at the museum earlier this month. It will be on view this weekend only, for special “after dark” event on Friday night (October 17). The 17-foot-tall replica of the Renaissance masterpiece is crafted from industrial-grade Styrofoam, and weighs just 200 pounds, a paltry figure in comparison to that of the real David, which is solid marble and clocks in at 5 1/2 tons. In addition to the David replica, the show will feature 40 pieces of art from Glasgow Museums, all of which are very real. David, however, will not be making the trip from Florence’s Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze to Cream City.

“It’s 500 years of Italian painting. You’ll see paintings from Botticelli, Titian and all the greats,” said Krista Renfrew, director of special events at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

And in case news of the David knock-off should cast doubt on the exhibition’s Italian roots, you should know that one of its sponsors is the Milwaukee-based frozen pizza manufacturer Palermo’s Pizza.

Of Heaven and Earth: 500 Years of Italian Painting from Glasgow Museums” continues at the Milwaukee Art Museum through January 4, 2015.


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