Florence vs Italy:

Michelangelo's David at
centre of ownership row
Florence city council has threatened a
courtroom battle with the Italian
government over the ownership of
Michelangelo's David.
Lawyers for the Italian Ministry of Culture have dredged up
documents from centuries ago to prepare a case which says the
marble figure - which draws more than £8 million from 1.5 million
visitors who flock to see the masterpiece each year - belongs to the
state.

However, the Tuscan city of Florence, where David is the star

attraction at the Accademia gallery, insists the masterpiece is
theirs

Maurizio Raugei and Luigi Andronio, lawyers acting on behalf of

Sandro Bondi, the Italian culture minister, say history is on their
side.

Pointing to the patchwork of independent city states that made up

the peninsula of Italy until the country was unified in 1861, the
lawyers say that Florence city council, which was created when the
city was part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, cannot be considered
the "descendant" of the Florentine republic, which existed when
Michelangelo carved the statue.

Standing 17ft high, the statue depicts the Old Testament hero who
killed the mighty Philistine giant Goliath with a single stone from
his slingshot.

The Renaissance master was paid 400 Florins for the work, which
was commissioned in 1501 for the city's cathedral. However, when
it was finished in 1504, it was placed outside the Palazzo Della
Signoria, where the local government had its offices.

It came to symbolise the Republic of Florence's bravery against

other more powerful surrounding states and David's warring gaze
was directed towards Rome.

But the Italian lawyers dismissed the local ties, arguing that,
following Italian unification in 1861, the statue belongs to the
nation.

They claim that when David was moved in 1872 from outside the
Palazzo to its current position in the Accademia, the city made no
claim on it.

A lawyers note written at the time on behalf of Florence Council

concluded: "There can be no question that because none of these
original states and republics exist today that the statue of David is
a patrimony of the Italian state."

But Matteo Renzi, Florence's centre-Left mayor, claimed he had

documents to prove the statue belonged to the city, adding: "I am
more than happy to meet with Minister Bondi to discuss this case
and avoid a petty childlike squabble and come to some agreement.
But we are prepared to fight to show David is ours."