A Florida school principal went to Florence to see Michelangelo’s famous David. This in itself is not an extraordinary event, but the Renaissance statue of the naked man is somewhat to blame for Hope Carrasquilla losing her job.
The teacher had shown a picture of David in a sixth grade art class and was then pressured by the school authorities to resign. Three parents at the conservative religious school had complained that the David as a teaching material was offensive and not age-appropriate. One person labeled the picture “pornographic”. According to the school board, Carrasquilla should have informed the parents before using the picture.
A month ago, when the incident caused a worldwide stir, the mayor of Florence invited the teacher and her students to see the original at the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence. “Confusing art with pornography is just ridiculous,” wrote Dario Nardella also on Twitter.
Personal guidance from the boss.
(Photo: Guido Cozzi/Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze)
At least the teacher followed this invitation. On Friday, together with the German director Cecilie Hollberg, she visited the museum where the original of the iconic work is located. “It is a great pleasure for me to welcome Mrs. Carrasquilla as a guest and to introduce her to David personally,” said Hollberg, according to the museum’s statement.
The Florida guest praised the amazing gallery that looks like a church and the “purity of the figure” David. “There’s nothing wrong with the human body,” says the American. She still thinks Michelangelo’s work is beautiful. She was then received by Mayor Nardella. “Art is civilization and those who teach it deserve respect,” he wrote about the visit Twitter.
The Florida school incident fits into a series of decisions by Gov. Ron DeSantis to transform Florida into one of America’s most restrictive and conservative states. He wants to protect children from “woke indoctrination” and “defend the values” of his conservative Christian voters.