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The Florentines identified their city either with Hercules or with David, the hero of the Old Testament. That is why there existed prior to Michelangelo's statue numerous pictures of the shepherd boy killing the giant with his sling. But in contrast to what had been customary up to that time, David does not appear in this huge depiction as the victor carrying the head of Goliath, but in the moment before that act of liberation: his sling is hidden on his back while with great concentration he takes the measure of his opponent and gathers all his strength.
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