Fine tailoring and the statue of David by Michelangelo

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Originally uploaded by wambawambo

Michelangelo's statue of David was commissioned not by a Pope or Cardinal but by an important secular association, the Office of Works of the Duomo (Operai), comprised mostly of members of the influential woolen cloth guild, the Arte della Lana, says Wikipedia.

We should be aware of the crossroads of fine art, commerce and fine design.

The Arte della Lana was the wool guild of Florence during the Late Middle Ages and in the Renaissance. The organization dealt in woollen cloth and cooperated with the other corporations of bankers and merchants in administering the commune. At the height of the industry the Arte della Lana directly employed 300 workers and indirectly about a third of Florence's population, and produced 100,000 lengths of cloth annually. The Arte della Lana saw all the processes from the raw baled wool through the final cloth, woven at numerous looms scattered in domiciles throughout the city.

As is China, Northern Italy is a home to fine tailoring and rich fabrics. From Bishops' robes to suits for businessmen and fashionable women, the Northern Italians have long been a force majeure.

Consider the best-known brand names: Armani, Cavalli, Cerruti, Ferragamo, Fiorucci, Gucci, Magli, Missoni, Prada, Pucci, Ricci and Versace.

So it's a small irony that David is nude. The money to create him came from clothiers.