Florida school principal forced to resign for showing Michelangelo’s David visits iconic statue in Florence

A few months ago, the American professor Hope Carrasquilla starred in a controversy that generated much debate.

She was forced to resign from her position as principal of a Florida school after she displayed the sculpture of the David by Michelangelo during an art class.

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Carrasquilla and his family recently visited this emblematic Renaissance sculpture in the Accademia Gallery museum in the city of Florence, Italy.

They were invited by the museum’s director, Cecilie Hollberg, who said she was grateful for the visit.

Carrasquilla assured to be impressed by gallery: “I think it’s beautiful. It looks like a church.”

“What impresses me the most is that the entire gallery was built for him”; he said in a statement to the BBC on Friday.

“There is nothing wrong with the human body. Michelangelo would have been wrong to sculpt it any other way. I think it’s wonderful,” he added.

controversial decision

Carrasquilla was asked to resign as principal of the Tallahassee Classical School, a charter school in Florida, after less than a year on the job.

Local media reported that Carrasquilla did not know why he was asked to leave, but believed it was due to some complaints about his class.

The 5.17-meter statue depicts a full nude of David, the biblical figure who slew the giant Goliath.

GETTY IMAGES.

Carrasquilla was teaching art to his 11-12 year old students and showed an image of David, as well as references to Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam” painting and Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus”, both of which also contain nudes.

One parent complained that this material was pornographic and others said they wanted to know in advance the content of the classes before they were given.

The incident has caused international outcry and confusion in the classical art community.

Gallery director Cecilie Hollberg (left) invited the professor to visit the work. (ACADEMY GALLERY).

The Florida Department of Education issued a statement explaining that the David sculpture had “artistic and historical value.”

Hollberg, the museum’s director, said she was “delighted to personally present” the educator with the piece.

“It’s a work of art representing the religious symbol of purity and innocence, the triumph of good over evil,” added Hollberg, who says more than half of the museum’s visitors come from the United States.

The David was completed by Michelangelo between 1501 and 1504. It was quickly hailed as a masterpiece. Renaissance artist Giorgio Vasari said that he had “exceeded” any statue that had come before.

Source: Elcomercio