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Male Statues & Their Appendages, Florence | The Middle Age Wanderer
Fountain of Neptune
Florence

Male Statues & Their Appendages, Florence

Posted In: Italy | Male Statues

Why are Classical Male Statues not very well endowed

Male statues can be found throughout many countries.  But, after reading a rather interesting article about male statues, titled “Why Aren’t Classical Statues Very Well Endowed”, it had me looking back through my photos of my trip to Florence, Italy.  The article, in part sets out:

“As it turns out, a lot has changed over the last few thousand years, including how we thing about penis size.  Elen Oredsson of the blog How to Talk About Art History explains in one post that ‘cultureal values about male beauty were completely different back then.  Today, big penises are seen as valuable and manly, but back then, most evidence points to the fact that small penises were considered better than big ones’.”

So, of course, after reading that, I just had to share some of the male statue photos with you, just so you can make up your own mind.  I know you want to see them!

Now obviously, the Statue of David is not in these photos as you can’t take photos in the museum.

Piazza della Signoria

The Piazza della Signoria has been the centre of political life in Florence since the 14th century.  The Palazzo Vecchio Museum and Tower overlook the square.  The sculptures in Piazza della Signoria are full of political and contradictory connotations. 

The replica Statue of David was placed outside the Palazzo Vecchio as a symbol of the Republic’s defiance of the tyrannical Medici. In contrast the Hercules and Cacus statue was taken by the Medici to show their physical power after their return from exile.

Replica of the Statue of David
Replica of the Statue of David
Hercules and Cacus (1533)
Hercules and Cacus (1533)

Boboli Gardens

The Boboli Gardens are more than just a garden.  They are an open air museum show casing centuries old oak trees, fountains and of course sculptures.  The gardens are 400 years in the making, starting in the 15th century before being completed in the 19th century.

Fountain of Neptune, otherwise known as the Fountain of the Fork
Fountain of Bacchus
This is the Fountain of Bacchus which represents Braccio di Bartolo, part of the court of Cosimo I de’Medici. He is depicted as naked and drunk with wine, riding a turtle (don’t ask me why, I don’t know!)

Loggia dei Lanzi

Loggia dei Lanzi is an open air museum next to the Piazza del Signoria.

Perseus holding the decapitated head of Medusa (in bronze) (1554)
Rape of the Sabine Women (1583)
Menelaus supporting the body of Patroclus
Hercules and Nessus (1599)

So after inspecting a number of classical male statues …… well I’ll leave it for you to decide!

If your interested in male statues, why not check out my Male Statues Series.

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Male Statues Florence
Male Statues Florence
  • Jay artale
    November 9, 2019

    So many appendages and so little time to see them all – this is a quite a series and I haven’t even perused your French appendage collection! Isn’t it interesting that we went from the celebration of the nude figure to the prim and proper Victorian era where that kind overt depiction was frowned upon.

    • Lisa
      Jay artale
      November 10, 2019

      So true Jay. The Victorian era was so prim and proper yet we have statues like these.

  • Alma
    November 9, 2019

    Had a great laugh at this! I’ve actually got a photo of the statue of David plus his appendage – taken long ago. I’m sure we were allowed to take photos then, but I’m sure it has changed.

    • Lisa
      Alma
      November 10, 2019

      So glad you enjoyed it Alma. Actually there are so many photos of the Statue of David – not sure how strict they are on the policy.

  • Faith Coates
    November 9, 2019

    LOL I’ve always wondered this myself, my curiosity is now satisfied but it does make me wonder with regards to “men in power” how many could be adequately represented by the small penis statues?

    • Lisa
      Faith Coates
      November 10, 2019

      Haha Faith. So glad you enjoyed the post and yes totally agree with your comment!

  • Karen
    November 10, 2019

    Well your front picture certainly got my attention and then held it LOL. Italy is certainly a good place for these sort of statues that mesmerise and entertain in equal measure. A fun piece.

    • Lisa
      Karen
      November 10, 2019

      Haha Karen. Glad it got your attention! And Italy is definitely a great place for statue spotting!

  • Ann
    November 10, 2019

    Haha sush a funny post, I love it! 😀
    I think there was an artexibit in Madrid a few years ago, at one of the biggest galleries, that had a show with a lot of … appendage 😀

    • Lisa
      Ann
      November 11, 2019

      Glad you enjoyed it Ann :-).

  • Gabby
    November 10, 2019

    That certainly got my attention! I’ve worked in the fitness industry for over a decade and even in just that short (comparative) time it’s been interesting to see how what is considered “attractive” has changed. Can’t say it’s been the most positive thing, but it is interesting to see aspects of vanity has changed over the ages as well as the decades!

    • Lisa
      Gabby
      November 11, 2019

      So true Gabby. It’s definitely interesting to see how vanity has changed.

  • Joanne
    November 12, 2019

    Such an interesting post and actually something I had never considered before LOL.

    • Lisa
      Joanne
      November 13, 2019

      Haha now you know all about it Joanne!

  • Vasu
    November 12, 2019

    What a fun post! I remember many of these sculptures from my visit, but didn’t realize quite how large a collection there is in Florence!

    • Lisa
      Vasu
      November 13, 2019

      There are definitely lots of male statues in Florence Vasu!

  • Sage Scott
    November 13, 2019

    This article made me laugh, in part remembering my first view of David. I was about seven and my sister was about four. My Dad snapped a pic of us looking up at his, um, appendage, with VERY wide eyes. LOL!

    • Lisa
      Sage Scott
      November 13, 2019

      Haha that would be a fun photo to look back on.

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