The sculpture of David by the Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo represents a significant break in representation in art from the medieval period to the Renaissance. Unlike medieval art, which focused on depicting figures in a stylized and symbolic manner, Renaissance art sought to represent the human form in a more realistic and naturalistic way. Michelangelo's David, created between 1501 and 1504, exemplifies this new approach to representation. The statue is a nearly life-sized representation of the biblical hero David, depicted as a young man standing confidently with his slingshot over his shoulder, before his victory over the giant Goliath. Michelangelo's David is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture, notable for its careful attention to anatomical detail, dynamic pose, and psychological intensity. Its depiction of a human figure in a naturalistic way marked a turning point in the history of Western art and influenced generations of artists that followed.