Italian Officials Invite Parents and Students of Florida Charter School to Visit the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze and View Michelangelo’s Iconic “David

The Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, home to Michelangelo’s iconic Renaissance masterpiece the “David”, has invited parents and students from a Florida charter school to visit after a controversy surrounding the statue led to the resignation of the school’s principal.

The Tallahassee Classical School’s board of directors pressured Principal Hope Carrasquilla to resign last week after an image of the David was shown to a sixth-grade art class. The school has a policy requiring parents to be notified in advance about any “controversial” topics being taught.

The incident has sparked a strong reaction from Italian officials, who are incredulous that the statue, which has been a symbol of Florence since it was unveiled in 1504, could be seen as controversial. Then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi spoke in front of the statue during a press conference in 2015.

The Italian response has highlighted the differences between the U.S. culture wars and Europe, where despite a rise in right-wing sentiment and governance, art is still widely seen as a source of beauty and inspiration. Florence Mayor Dario Nardella called the confusion of art with pornography “ridiculous”.

The Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze has now invited the parents and students of the Tallahassee Classical School to visit the museum and view the David in person. The museum hopes that the visit will provide an opportunity for the students to appreciate the beauty of the statue and gain a better understanding of its historical significance.