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Who owns the statue of David?

FLORENCE, ITALY NEWS As you marvel at the masterpieces of the Renaissance abundant throughout Florence, you probably never stop to contemplate the question: who owns these great works of art? But who owns the statue of David and the estimated 10 million Euros he generates per year? This very matter is under consideration by the State government in Rome and discussions are underway between the national government and the community. The question, raised in response to the State's request for a larger share of the revenue the famed statue brings in to the Galleria dell'Accademia, can be viewed as part of a larger problem concerning who owns the cultural heritage and artwork throughout Italy, and, likewise, who should be in charge of the maintenance and administration of the objects. What the matter really comes down to, though, is who should be receiving the profits? So who are the ones involved? On one side we have the mayor of Florence, Matteo Renzi, and Cristina Acidini, superintendent of the Polo Museale Fiorentino, the organization that manages the state museums in Florence. On the other, we have Sandro Bondi, minister of the Beni or cultural heritage and art of Italy. The David alone reportedly brings in something like 12% of the total tourist revenue for the city. Here, in the palace then known as the Palazzo dei Priori, lived the priors of the city and here the basic civic functions of the republic took place. In 1873, to protect David's perfection from the elements, he was transported into the Gallerie dell'Accademia for preservation purposes. However, a document from November 9, 1871, between the Regio Governo and the Municipio di Firenze, attests to the commune's ownership of the Palazzo Vecchio, the Piazza della Signoria, and the adjoining objects of art, as well as Michelangelo's masterpiece. Hard to argue against original documentation. Except for when the government has spent money on preserving, maintaining, and protecting the object in question. Florentine legislators have submitted two proposals in the parliament to deal with the plight in Florence, hoping to gain a special law regulating the relationship between city and state as well as the ownership of the statue.

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