A former Florida school principal, who was forced to resign after students were shown an image of Michelangelo’s iconic statue of a naked David, visited the statue in Florence.
Hope Carrasquilla, her husband and two children, came straight to the museum immediately after arriving in town to meet Cecilie Hollberg, art director of the Accademia Gallery, to view the statue that got her fired in real life.
Carrasquilla resigned as principal of the Florida city’s Tallahassee Classical school last month after a parent claimed the towering statue was pornographic. Other parents complained that they were not notified in advance that their children would see the naked figure during a lesson on the Renaissance.
Carrasquilla also received an award from the city of Florence “in the name of art and culture,” revealed Florence Mayor Dario Nardella.
‘Art is civilization and whoever teaches it deserves respect. Welcome Professor Hope Carrasquilla!’ He wrote.
Hope Carrasquilla (right), her husband and two children, came straight to the museum after arriving in town to meet with Accademia Gallery Art Director Cecilie Hollberg (left) to see the statue in real life that got her fired
Carrasquilla (right) also received an award from the city of Florence “in the name of art and culture,” Florence Mayor Dario Nardella (left) revealed
Hollberg invited the former director as her guest at the gallery and said yes an ‘immense pleasure’ to show her the statue in real life.
“I am pleased to welcome her and introduce her to the beauties of our museum, in addition to showing her the David, a sculpture that, I repeat as I said, has nothing to do with pornography,” said Hollberg in a written statement. “It is a masterpiece, it represents a religious symbol of purity and innocence, the triumph of good over evil.”
Hollberg added that the nudity of the work is “a clear expression of the human-centered renaissance.”
Michelangelo’s marble sculpture depicts the biblical David, naked, with a sling over his shoulder and a stone in his hand, ready to battle Goliath.
Hollberg noted that currently more than 50 percent of gallery visitors are from the United States.
“I am sure that Mrs. Carrasquilla will find here, in Florence, the welcome and solidarity she deserves,” added the director.
Hollberg invited the former director to the gallery as her guest and said it was a “huge pleasure” to show her the sculpture in real life
Carrasquilla (pictured with the mayor of Florence) resigned as principal of the Florida city’s Tallahassee Classical school last month after a parent claimed the towering statue was pornographic. Other parents complained that they were not notified in advance that their children would see the naked figure during a lesson on the Renaissance
David was made between 1501 and 1504. It is widely considered the world’s largest sculpture, but Tallahassee’s parents thought it inappropriate because of David’s nudity.
The statue was one of the works of art studied in a Renaissance art class for students aged 11 and 12.
The parents are now demanding an early vote on any subject or lesson that could be considered “controversial.”
“Parental rights are paramount, and that means protecting the best interests of all parents, whether they are one, 10, 20 or 50,” said school board president Barney Bishop.
He admitted at the time to giving Carrasquilla an ultimatum, telling her to hand in her resignation or be fired.
Carrasquilla told The Tallahassee Democrat she was “saddened” that her brief tenure at the school was coming to an end. She had only been working for a year.
The Florida school is attended by some 400 students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
School board president Barney Bishop gave Carrasquilla an ultimatum to leave her position or be fired. “Parental rights are paramount, and that means protecting the best interests of all parents, whether they are one, 10, 20 or 50,” he said.
The statue was one of the works of art studied in a renaissance art class for students aged 11 and 12