On this day, Michelangelo Buonarroti unveiled the massive 17-foot tall, 12,000 lbs. white Italian Carrara marble Statue of David in Florence, Italy. The massive statue depicts a naked David, the Biblical King who used a slingshot to kill Goliath.

After three years of work skillfully sculpting the Statue of David, Michelangelo unveiled his sculpture on September 8, 1504, in Florence, Italy. Michelangelo showcased his sculpting mastery, salvaging a block of marble that other artists thought was flawed.

The Statue of David represents the Biblical King David, who used a slingshot to kill the Philistine giant, Goliath. The Opera del Duomo commissioned the nude Statue of David for the Cathedral of Florence in 1501, and it took three years to sculpt it to perfection.

The Statue of David was to be among other statues to highlight the cathedral's roofline. But lifting the 6-ton artwork required a lot of effort for heavy lifting, so it was found ideal to reside at the Piazza where the public could admire it.

At the sculpture's commissioning, it was a proud moment for 26-year-old Michelangelo. While most former sculptures of David featured a boy, Michelangelo's sculpture depicted a muscular man holding a sling in his left hand and a rock in his right. Many artists and art lovers still consider the statue one of the most exquisite high renaissance art.