Carrara, May 17, 2022 – About all images from David by Michelangelo from the grounds of the sculpture workshop. It is clear the court order of Florence what the Cave Michelangelo of art studios requires Carrara to delete from its pages all photos showing Buonarroti’s masterpiece because “they demean the image of cultural heritage”. In the future, however, the same fate could also befall “all the tools used in the manufacture and marketing of the image of David”, with the risk of setting a dangerous precedent for craftsmen and stonemasons who make the reproduction of masterpieces of art their profession have made .
“We removed the pictures from the site – explains the owner of the art studios Cave Michelangelo Franco Barattini – we await the judges on the main issue. What is certain is that the artisan studies are over when they can no longer make copies of the works of art.” The decree is only the last stage in a long legal affair that began in 2018: the then Ministry of Goods and Economy Cultural Activities had the advertising campaign of the Florentine fashion house under control took the magnifying glass Brioni who had a copy of the David owned by the Cave Michelangelo, dressed in a tuxedo. At that time, the Ministry had already asked for the illegal use of the image to be determined and for both companies to be prohibited from using it for commercial purposes. The Carrarese Studies had proven their good faith and after removing a video from their Facebook page depicting the copy of the David, they undertook “to allow the reproduction of the statue in their studio as a didactic tool for the training of sculptors.” retain its use without prior request and approval from Accademia Gallery.
However, last February they returned from Rome to demand the removal of the photos from the Apuan company’s website “to avoid the stabilization of the possible harmful consequences of the behavior”. This request was accepted by the Florentine judges, who also ordered the Michelangelo Cave Art Studios to pay 500 euros for each day of delay in carrying out the precautionary measure. For the time being, however, the court has decided to defer a decision on the possible withdrawal from the market and the destruction of “all tools used in the manufacture and marketing of the image of David” “until the outcome of the substantive judgment”, as requested by the ministry. .