The model itself is around 16cm in height and is dated loosely at circa 1520. It can now be found at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, UK. The artist would frequently produce these small pieces to take to patrons and seek funds for the larger piece, though they were also useful in helping him to plan the piece and make adjustments at this earlier stage. Drawings have been discovered from his lifetime which also point to how he used that art form to perfect his understanding of human anatomy as well, and he would always properly prepare in order to ensure that his high level of achievement would never drop. Such models could also be used by other artists, such as his assistants, in order to understand why Michelangelo wanted, when providing support to some of his larger projects. At such a small size they could easily be handed around a studio and explained in person by Michelangelo if necessary.
Michelangelo's career has been examined in extraordinary detail over the years, with each time a new generation building on what has already been discovered and making use of new techniques to embellish it with futher detail. Some elements from his career have been discussed in terms of attribution, though the main parts of his career have been entirely accepted as his own for many centuries. It tends to be the wealthier art institutions who are able to use scientific research which helps to really understand more about each piece, and they are also excellent for ensuring the preservation of these important and often fragile artworks.
The Victoria & Albert Museum has a beautifully eclectic collection of art and antiquities dating back all the way to ancient civilisations. Much of it was directly acquired by the British Empire, which itself became a presence in most parts of the world over a period of several centuries. Some of these items have since been returned, where the method of acquisition came under question, but most appear to have simply been purchased locally at the time and so are free of any moral judgement. What is left is an exquisite selection of the best creativity across a wide variety of cultures which should be of interest to almost anyone. The venue is free to visit, though they also have paid-for exhibitions from time to time which sit alongside the permanent collection which is entirely sufficient on its own, and would fill many hours for those lucky enough to visit this impressive venue in central London.