The marble of the David of Michelangelo: a multi-method analysis of provenance

The origin of the marble block utilised by Michelangelo for sculpting the David has been determined with the aid of a multi-method proveriancing procedure including spectroscopic (EPR), isotopic and other miscellaneous variables. Data processing was carried out using discriminant function analysis. The proveriancing procedure was split into three sequential steps aimed at obtaining increasing spatial resolution. High values of relevant probabilistic parameters indicate that the David's marble originates from Carrara and, specifically, from the Fantiscritti quarries (Miseglia), thus confirming the assignment proposed in the 19th century on the basis of simple autoptic examination. The role of different provenancing techniques in the three stages of the analysis is briefly discussed, as is the performance of instrumental methods as compared with the ability of a trained human eye. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.