Michelangelo’s Statue of David in Pure .999 Silver
Experience the “Revival of the Renaissance” with the world’s largest precious metal sculpture. Standing at a heroic 17′ feet tall, this masterpiece is a posthumous first-edition original cast from the historic 1932 Ferdinando Marinelli Foundry master molds.
Crafted by Mark Russo and Foundry Michelangelo, this monumental achievement contains an estimated 45,000 troy ounces of .999 fine silver. By combining the radiant beauty of pure silver with the empirical provenance of the Casa Buonarroti Museum, this sculpture transcends traditional art to become a “super-asset” of unprecedented value.
Description
From Stone to Legacy 
It began as a problem. A tall, narrow block of Carrara marble — scarred, partially worked, and already judged.
Roughly shaped. Poorly proportioned. Structurally flawed. Two sculptors had tried — and walked away.
Agostino di Duccio began the work. Antonio Rossellino abandoned it soon after.
For more than 25 years, the stone stood neglected — weathered, damaged, and in the way.
- Not prized… but avoided.
- Not chosen… but passed over.
Then came Michelangelo, in 1501, at just 26 years old, Michelangelo acquired that very block. He did not see what it was. He saw what it could become. Where others saw damage, he saw direction. Where others saw limitation, he saw form waiting to be revealed. He did not ask for perfect material. He did not wait for perfect conditions. He accepted the stone as it was — and transformed it into David.
Not despite its flaws… but through them.
The silver masterpiece of Michelangelo’s "David" is a unique 1 of 1 posthumous original
authorized by the museum of Casa 
Buonarroti and Foundry Marinelli, cast in 80,000 ounces of pure silver. The creation of this work was made possible by a plaster master mould taken directly from Michelangelo’s original marble statue in 1928 by the world-famous Marinelli Foundry in Florence, Italy.
Historically, the original "David" was sculpted by Michelangelo between 1501 and 1504 using a single block of Carrara marble that had been rejected by other artists and left exposed to the elements for four decades. Standing 17 feet tall, the sculpture depicts the biblical hero and future king of Israel just before his legendary encounter with Goliath. It was originally commissioned for the Florence Cathedral to serve as a symbol of the power and independence of the Florentine Republic.
Following its unveiling in the Piazza della Signoria, the statue became a premier destination for artists and travelers across Europe and is now universally regarded as the greatest masterpiece of both Michelangelo’s career and the entire Renaissance.
The Same Spirit — Carried Forward
That same spirit lives on today. Mark Russo stands at the forefront — continuing this legacy of vision, courage, and creation.
From modest beginnings, without excess or advantage, he recognized opportunity where others hesitated. Through determination and belief, he acquired the rights, the materials, and the means to bring David forward once more — reborn in .999 solid silver.
Not as imitation… but as continuation.
The Vision Behind the Work
As one who has walked a similar path, I recognize this journey. Like the masters before us, I was not given perfect conditions —only the will to create. A builder. A thinker. A student of many disciplines — a true Renaissance path forged through experience.
From humble beginnings, I learned to work with what others overlooked… to shape, refine, and elevate raw materials into something lasting. This story is not theory. It is lived.
Making Something from Nothing This is the true art:
- To take what is dismissed — and make it timeless.
- To see value where others see none.
- To do what few will attempt:
- To make a silk purse from a sow’s ear.
Not through luck. Not through chance.
Silver Statue of David
Specifications:
- Material: 45,000 .oz of .999 Fine Silver, from original moulds of wax and plaster
- Weight: 80,000 troy ounces
- Company: Foundry Michelangelo
- Product: Statue of David
- Date of Original Manufacture: 1932 original moulds
- Place of Manufacture: Ferdinando Marinelli Foundry in Florence, Italy
- Height: 17' tall
- Appraised: Over $1.2 Billion
- Target Sale Price: In excess of $450 Million/Fractional Investing Sales
- Authentication by: The Casa Buonarroti Museum (the Michelangelo Foundation).
- Casting: 1 of 1 Only
This Was Not Recreated —
It Was Reclaimed
For over 500 years, Michelangelo’s David stood
as untouchable — A pinnacle of human achievement.
What Mark Russo accomplished was not replication. He brought forward the true form — through a process tied directly to
its origin. Cast in .999 pure silver.
**Not interpretation; Continuation.**
The Statue and Its Inscription 
Sharing the profound meaning of this statue and what it meant to most who admired it, it makes a simple yet powerful statement indicative to the understanding of the nature and physique of man and its splendor referencing being a creation of God:
The Latin inscription reads:
“AETHERNAE ARTIS HUIUS CELEBRITATI
MUNIFICENTIA PII SEXTI PONT. MAX.
AMPLISSIMO CAELI CONCESSIT ANNO V”
English Translation:
“To the eternal glory of this work of art,
by the generosity of Pius VI, Supreme Pontiff,
most abundantly granted by Heaven, in the fifth year.”
Meaning in plain terms: 
It’s essentially a dedication honoring the artwork:
- Praising the piece as timeless (“eternal art”)
- Crediting Pope Pius VI for patronage or recognition
- Framing the work as something divinely inspired or blessed
- Noting it was commemorated in a specific year of his papacy
The Man Behind The Mission
This work exists because one man refused to accept limits. By the grace of God, and through relentless determination, Mark Russo pursued what others said could not be done — For nearly two decades.
- Through rejection.
- Through doubt.
- Through closed doors.
- Not for recognition.
But because he believed it mattered. Until the moment came — A rare convergence of access, trust, and timing. Connected to Florence… to the Vatican… to history itself. And he acted.
From Florence… To America
A early concept drawing of the statue of David by Michelangelo
This is where history shifts. Because this was not completed in Italy. This was realized in Battleground, Washington — At Foundry Michelangelo. Where Old World mastery lives again through modern hands.
Where craftsmanship is not studied — But practiced.
The Renaissance Never Ended
Most believe the Renaissance is history.
It is not. It is a pattern.
It appears wherever:
- Craftsmanship matters
- Legacy matters
- Limits are rejected
From Michelangelo… to preserved knowledge… to Russo… The line was never broken.
The Ghiglieri Legacy — Living Proof 
At the same time, that same spirit continues forward through the Ghiglieri family —
Artists whose works stand in:
- The Vatican
- The White House
- The highest levels of civilization
They are not preserving the past. They are living it. Through Mark Russo’s vision and understanding of placement and meaning, their works — especially the Golden Eagles — have been positioned where symbolism meets power.
Recognized And Carried Forward
Great work must not only be created — It must be understood… positioned… and carried into the world.
That is where H.J. Nick enters this story. A builder. A craftsman. A modern Renaissance man.
Not the creator of David — But one who recognized its significance… And understood what it represents.
That greatness is not created by academics or theory — But by those who build… act… and believe.
Through Foundry Michelangelo, this work is being brought forward — So, it is not only seen — But understood.
The American Renaissance
The American story is not one of privilege. It is born from immigrants. Built by second-generation Americans.
Driven by faith, work, and vision without limits. Not guided by academics — But by builders. Because history does not remember those who studied greatness. It remembers those who created it!
The Meaning Of David — Today
David stood for one truth: That a single individual — with belief and skill — can stand against giants. That truth has not changed. Only the battlefield has.
Today the giants are:
- Systems
- Pressure
- Doubt
- Opposition
When most stood back. The doers stepped forward.
From David… To The Eagle 
This same spirit continues — Through the placement of the Ghiglieri Golden Eagles at the highest levels of leadership…
And through the work of H.J. Nick, including the Freedom Eagle Table — A 13-year symbol of American strength, craftsmanship, and independence — A piece that belongs not just in a room — But at the highest level of the nation.
Final Declaration
Michelangelo revealed David from stone. Mark Russo brought him forward in silver. The Ghiglieri masters carry the spirit of greatness forward.
And those who recognize its meaning — Carry it into the future. The Renaissance is not behind us. It is being continued — by those who act.
Written by H.J. Nick, ArtFactory.com — Where Legacy Is Built.
✨ Visit H.J. Nick’s Art Factory Galleries ✨
7407 E Greenway Rd, Scottsdale Airpark, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Monday – Friday | 8 AM – 4 PM MST
Walk-ins Welcome | Private Viewings by Appointment
📅 Appointments & Inquiries
📞 Call: 1-800-292-0008 – Ask for Karla
🌐 Website: www.artfactory.com
• ✈️ Jet Parking Available
• 🚗 Limousine Service Available
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.