Dreaming of Italy

Author: Liu Yuanju
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Florence, like other senior European cities, has a magnificent skyline. It is a wonderful combination of churches, town halls, and various public buildings. What adapts people to linger are the squares. The squares are also places that are worth pondering. As soon as we entered Florence, we were led to the Piazza della Signoria.
This is the square of the elderly, everywhere marked with the wrinkles of age, filled with memories of vicissitudes.
Before our eyes is the robust figure left by Michelangelo for humanity, tilting with the sunlight. The contrast between light and shadow reveals the magnificent and handsome beauty of David's nude, transcending history and reaching the perfect shore of the present. Has he stood here all this time? Is he the embodiment of Michelangelo?
Michelangelo undoubtedly belongs to Florence, as he was born here. In the Florence Museum, there is a marble statue titled "The Victor." It is a sculpture of a nude man with a low forehead, covered by low, curly hair. He stands tall, with the back of a prisoner resting on his knee. The prisoner curls up, his head stretched forward. Like an ox. To interpret this work, the definition of the "Victor" is complex. Just as he is about to strike the prisoner with his fist, he stops, turning his sorrowful expression and his uncertain gaze elsewhere, and his strong arm also folds back toward his shoulder. Thus, he leans back. As a result, the "Victor" in our eyes no longer needs to win; victory seems to repel him. In fact, he is the victor, but at the same time he realizes that he has also lost. This ambivalent heroic figure, this wingless god of victory, occupies a very important position in the artistic life of Michelangelo. He kept this work in his studio, accompanying him day and night.
Michelangelo carved so many works in his life, yet why was only this one the only one he kept by his side, accompanying him for life? Those who knew him said that only this work truly embodies Michelangelo himself, symbolizing his entire life.
After his death, a close friend of his wanted to move it to Michelangelo's tomb, but for some reason, it was never moved.
Michelangelo had deep feelings for Florence, but unfortunately, he left very early in life. This made him live in regret, silently waiting for the day when he could return to his Florence. He suffered and felt lonely because of this nostalgia. He strove his entire life to return to his Florence, yet fate seemed to always play tricks on him. As a result, most of his life was spent without connection to Florence.