The shepherd boy David was summoned to the court, because he was the only one who, with his harp playing, could chase away the evil spirit that had taken possession of King Saul (Samuel 16:14-23). During one of these performances, the king fell into a rage and threw a spear at David. The painting shows the king, on the right with the spear in has hand, while he raises his right hand to David, who is completely lost in his playing and has no idea of what is about to happen. They are surrounded by soldiers and courtiers who do not participate in the event, but simply act as extras in a play. Cavallino painted this subject on two further occasions; these works are found in Vienna and London.
Specifications
| Title | David Playing Harp to Saul |
|---|---|
| Material and technique | Oil on canvas |
| Object type |
Painting
> Painting
> Two-dimensional object
> Art object
|
| Location | This object is in storage |
| Dimensions |
Width 130 cm Height 94,5 cm |
|---|---|
| Artists |
Painter:
Bernardo Cavallino
|
| Accession number | St 115 |
| Credits | Loan Stichting Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, 1961 |
| Department | Old Masters |
| Acquisition date | 1961 |
| Creation date | in 1625 - 1650 |
| Internal exhibitions |
The Collection Enriched (2011) |
| Material | |
| Object | |
| Geographical origin | Italy > Southern Europe > Europe |
All about the artist
Bernardo Cavallino
Napels 1616 - Napels 1656
Bernardo Cavallino was a painter from Naples. He was one of the most reputable painters in his city in the 1640s and 1650s. Of the eighty works attributed to...
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