# How can I purchase Michaelangelo's David? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 15, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906 "2009-10-15T14:15:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/1 "2009-10-15T14:15:43Z")
I was reading some stupid online news article, and it made me think of who owned all of those Renaissance pieces of art. Are the Medicis even still around? At any rate, when I collect my big bucks from my memoirs, who do I contact to buy the statue of David? Thanks, hh ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/2 "2009-10-15T14:20:42Z")
These guys have it [Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accademia_di_Belle_Arti_Firenze) But I doubt they will sell it for any price ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/3 "2009-10-15T14:22:40Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > These guys have it > > [Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accademia_di_Belle_Arti_Firenze) > > But I doubt they will sell it for any price Mm, hmm. What if I wave a crisp $100 dollar bill under their noses? I bet they’d be singing a different song, then! hh ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/4 "2009-10-15T14:49:58Z")
You probably will need to get a new house. It is a big statue. So factor that expense in. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/5 "2009-10-15T15:03:22Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Mm, hmm. What if I wave a crisp $100 dollar bill under their noses? I bet they’d be singing a different song, then! > hh No – it’s in the Euro zone, so you need to wave a crisp 100 Euro bill under their noses. Better still, if you want to really impress them, wave a 500,000₤ bill (worth about 250 Euro) at them. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/6 "2009-10-15T15:06:35Z")
I can’t help you out. How many do you want? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/7 "2009-10-15T15:06:56Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > These guys have it > > [Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accademia_di_Belle_Arti_Firenze) > > But I doubt they will sell it for any price It’s housed there, but I’ll bet that the academy doesn’t own the piece. In any case, most countries recognize the idea of “national patrimony”; that there are certain things that belong to the country as a whole and should not leave it. So even if such a piece were in private hands, the government would stop you from exporting it. (I think in a couple of cases where something of importance in private hands was being sold to a foreigner, the government has stepped in and found a domestic buyer.) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/8 "2009-10-15T16:02:17Z")
Are your funds unlimited? You might want to set up a new, state-of-the-art tourist-friendly climate-controlled museum for Florentine sculpture in your home territory. Bide your time, establishing your credentials and acquiring quality pieces. Eventually, you’ll get _David_ on loan. Then, pounce: you can vanish into the mists while your hired thugs remove it in the middle of the night and ship it to your tropical island. Morning comes with the ensuing scandal, but the figurehead you’ve set up as head of the foundation knows nothing about it and you can’t be traced. Insurance covers the cost to the Academy / Italy, and you have what you want. But a straightforward cash transaction is simply not possible. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/9 "2009-10-15T16:05:38Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Then, pounce: you can vanish into the mists while your hired thugs remove it in the middle of the night and ship it to your tropical island. Sure, but be careful who you invite to the grand opening. If a bunch of hippie kids and a semi-talking dog show up, you might want to delay the swipe another day or two. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/10 "2009-10-15T16:12:14Z")
Well, if the historical example of the Mona Lisa is any guide, you can just tuck the statue under your coat and walk out with it. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/11 "2009-10-15T16:58:42Z")
They have 3 of them in Florence, they might part with one of them for the right price. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/12 "2009-10-15T17:06:40Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > At any rate, when I collect my big bucks from my memoirs, who do I contact to buy the statue of David? Which statue of David? There are three of them. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/13 "2009-10-15T17:08:55Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > It’s housed there, but I’ll bet that the academy doesn’t own the piece. [This 2003 article](http://www.opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110003879) from the Wall Street Journal discusses the ownership of the statue. At that time, it appears that Italy’s central government owned _David_. It probably still does, unless control of fine arts has since devolved to regional or city level as mentioned in the linked piece. In order to avoid the inevitable disappointment that will follow an unsuccessful offer for the statue, I suggest the OP considers buying a _David_ fridge magnet instead. A 7.6cm magnet can be acquired for a mere £2.95 ($4.79), thus removing the requirement for a best-selling memoir to fund the purchase. ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/14 "2009-10-15T17:16:22Z")
I somehow came by this notion that some antiquities could not be purchased under international treaties or laws. Did I dream this up? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/15 "2009-10-15T17:19:39Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Which statue of David? There are three of them. He said “Michaelangelo’s David”, so how is that ambiguous? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/16 "2009-10-15T17:33:27Z")
Ah, but which Michaelangelo? Just kidding. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/17 "2009-10-15T17:44:01Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Are your funds unlimited? You might want to set up a new, state-of-the-art tourist-friendly climate-controlled museum for Florentine sculpture in your home territory. Bide your time, establishing your credentials and acquiring quality pieces. Eventually, you’ll get _David_ on loan. Then, pounce: you can vanish into the mists while your hired thugs remove it in the middle of the night and ship it to your tropical island. Morning comes with the ensuing scandal, but the figurehead you’ve set up as head of the foundation knows nothing about it and you can’t be traced. Insurance covers the cost to the Academy / Italy, and you have what you want. > > But a straightforward cash transaction is simply not possible. You’re probably better off figuring out how to make a fake, and somehow switch the fake for the real one. Other than that, the plan is totally sound. ---
**Author:** ![pan1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@pan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pan1)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/18 "2009-10-15T19:04:39Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > I somehow came by this notion that some antiquities could not be purchased under international treaties or laws. Did I dream this up? International Law is redundant with the word Treaties. The slight difference is that the bully nations of the world can [try to] enforce Treaties upon nations who didn’t sign them. Antiquities require gov’t dispensation to go to a private owner. Treaties usually say you have to sell it to a museum. This usally pertains to objects that have no living owner, like King Tut’s loot or that Saxon Hoarde they just dug up. Unfortunately Michelangelo’s works are not yet considered “Antiquities” under these laws. ---
**Author:** ![pan1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@pan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pan1)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/19 "2009-10-15T19:08:30Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > You’re probably better off figuring out how to make a fake, and somehow switch the fake for the real one. Other than that, the plan is totally sound. I get the mental image of a guy in a fedora trying to “hot swap” two 17’ tall statues. I’ve only seen the statue once close up, but I seem to remember it looked pretty heavy. ---
**Author:** ![Improvisor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/50afbb/32.png) [@Improvisor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improvisor)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906/20 "2009-10-15T21:15:36Z")
Luckily you can come to Seattle and steal one of eight mini-replicas they have placed around the city as PR for a Michaelangelo exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum. [http://seattleartmuseum.org/david/](http://seattleartmuseum.org/david/) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-purchase-michaelangelos-david/513906.md?page=2)