David van Michelangelo in Florence before 1871

Giacomo Brogi made this photograph of Michelangelo’s David in Florence. Photography in the 19th century was still a relatively new technology, and photographs of artworks circulated as reproductions that democratized access to art. David had already become a symbol of Florentine civic virtue, and this photograph further cemented the statue's place in popular culture. This image, made in Italy, shows the statue in front of a brick wall. As a scholar, I’m interested in the role institutions play in shaping our understanding of art. What does it mean to see David reproduced in a photograph? How does that change our relationship to the artwork? To understand Brogi’s photograph, we can look at photography journals and museum archives. By situating the photograph within its social and institutional context, we can better understand its significance and the public role of art in 19th-century Italy.