David Beheading Goliath, c. 1520-25
Engravingexpand_more
Gift of Herschel V. Jones, 1926expand_more P.10,936
Not on Viewexpand_more
Modeled after a fresco by Raphael in the Vatican, Marcantonio Raimondi's engraving depicts the climactic scene after weeks of combat between the Israelites and the Philistines, According to the Books of Samuel from the Bible, the Philistine (pagan) warrior Goliath is defeated in battle by the young David, the future king of Israel, who uses a simple sling and stone to fell the giant. In epic form, David is set to behead Goliath, whose right-hand fingers still grasp for life. In 16th-century Italy, Marcantonio's audiences would immediately have interpreted David as Christ, Goliath as Satan, and the Israelites as the Church Triumphant.
Exhibitions
The Art of Murder
Saturday, July 19, 2014 - Sunday, April 19, 2015
Details
- Title
- David Beheading Goliath
- Artist Life
- c. 1475/1480–c.1534
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- P.10,936
- Provenance
- Charles de Valois, Lugt 2479, Paris (until d.1799; his sale, F.Regnault-Delalande, Paris, December 14-19, 1801 [23-28 frimaire an X], no. 231); Julian Marshall, Lugt 1494, London (until 1864; his sale, Sotheby's, London, June 30-July 10, 1864, no. 1573, for £36, to Grundy; James Reiss, Lugt 1523 (1812-1899), Manchester and London; Herschel V. Jones, Minneapolis (until 1926; gave to MIA)
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Bartsch XIV.12.10 (first state, before tablet with MAF monogram); Delaborde XI.1
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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