The Statute of David draws so many paying visitors each year, that the revenues amount to  Euro  12 Million. 

Lawyers are battling out whether this is an Italian Treasure as of the Unification, or remained with Florence.

A "tricky phrase" in an Agreement at Unification, gave the building to Florence, but made no mention of the contents therein. 

That which is attached to any Building is part of the building , but  "David" is Not "attached" , merely displayed.

It May have been the intent of the Signers on both sides to include the contents, but the Court may not rely on the intent, as interpreted from connected memos, communications, etc,  But ONLY that what is stated within  the four corners of the Document.

If Italy prevails, do they do the sacrilegious thing and "move" David,, or does Florence charge Italy Rent to display David in their building, to be paid from Revenues, or Does Florence merely pay Italy a portion of Revenues.??? 

Max Rossi/Reuters Michelangelo's statue of David.
A longstanding tug of war has resumed between the city of Florence and the Italian state over Michelangelo's 'David' after a report by state-appointed lawyers was made public. The document argues that although the statue was commissioned by the Florentine Republic in 1501, Italy became the rightful titleholder after its unification in the 19th century.

Florence?s mayor, Matteo Renzi, sought to rebut the claim, saying, according to news reports, that a decree issued shortly after unification granted ownership of the building where 'David' was displayed to the city; the national government's lawyers replied that the decree made no mention of the statue itself.

With its representation of Goliath's slayer, 'David' was a symbol of the freedom and autonomy of the Florentine Republic, and an important source of civic pride. At a press conference on Monday, Mayor Renzi declared that 'Michelangelo's 'David' belongs to Florence ? there are no legal doubts, all the documents confirm it.?

Italy?s culture minister, Sandro Bondi, meanwhile, issued a statement of Monday describing the battle over the statue as 'absurd and inopportune.'

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/
 

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