The Florentine Museum which houses Michelangelo’s iconic sculpture David (1501-04) engages in a unusual type of cultural diplomacy. Following the resignation of Hope Carrasquilla, principal of a Florida school whose course featured the A 16th century statue caused a parental outcryadministrators of the Galleria dell’Accademia and the mayor of Florence contacted Carrasquilla and his students, offering front row seats to the marble masterpiece.
According to Tallahassee Democrat, three parents complained about ‘controversial’ statue’s inclusion in Tallahassee Classical School’s curriculum; one of them even deemed the work of art “pornographic”. As a result of these complaints, Hope Carrasquilla, the principal of the conservative charter school, was ousted by council after less than a year of work.
“To think that David might be pornographic really means not understanding the content of the Bible, not understanding Western culture and not understanding Renaissance art,” said Cecilie Hollberg, director of the Galleria dell’Accademia. Associated press.. She then invited Carrasquilla, the Tallahassee Classical School Board of Trustees, outraged parents and the entire student body to come see the “purity” of David on the spot.
The mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella, also tweeted an invite for Carrasquilla to visit the city so he can honor him personally, calling the whole kerfuffle “ridiculous”.
Addressing the Associated press, Carrasquilla indicated that she could accept the invitations. “I’m totally, like, wow,” she said. “I’ve been to Florence before and seen the David up close and in person, but I would love to go there and be a guest of the mayor.”
Barney Bishop III, chairman of the Tallahassee Classical School board, continues to defend the decision to oust Carrasquilla. “Parents have a right to know whenever their child learns of a controversial subject and image,” he said. Slate.
