Struck by death: Goliath and David in masterpieces by
Caravaggio and Nicholas Poussin
The biblical story of David and Goliath is told in 1 Samuel 17. The background for the well-known battle was the war between Philistines and Israelites. Goliath, a gigantic champion on the side of Philistines, was ready to fight one-on-one a warrior from the Israelites camp. ‘Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” ‘
David was a shepherd’s son, the youngest among his eight siblings. His three older brothers left to war, whilst David stayed with his father commuting from his place to Bethlehem to trade sheep. One day, when David came to the city of Bethlehem, he overheard Goliath shouting his message, encouraging, or better-said intrinsically terrifying, Israelites to send a man to fight with him. David said: “Your servant has killed both the lion and the …show more content…
The possible date when the work was done spins from 1605 to 1610. During that time, Caravaggio had already fled Rome and settled in the Island of Malta, as a part of the knighthood of Saint John the Baptist. However, due to the undetermined date, it may also be said, that the painting was executed already after Caravaggio’s years in Malta. Particularly after he had fled the knighthood and stopped in Naples before taking a ship to go back to Rome. It is important to understand this ambiguity, as it definitely surrounds the art of Caravaggio and lets one interpret each of his masterpieces in different ways. Sybille Ebert-Schifferer, one of the latest researchers on the art of Caravaggio, identifies David with the Head of Goliath as a part of the artist’s Neapolitan
Caravaggio and Nicholas Poussin
The biblical story of David and Goliath is told in 1 Samuel 17. The background for the well-known battle was the war between Philistines and Israelites. Goliath, a gigantic champion on the side of Philistines, was ready to fight one-on-one a warrior from the Israelites camp. ‘Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” ‘
David was a shepherd’s son, the youngest among his eight siblings. His three older brothers left to war, whilst David stayed with his father commuting from his place to Bethlehem to trade sheep. One day, when David came to the city of Bethlehem, he overheard Goliath shouting his message, encouraging, or better-said intrinsically terrifying, Israelites to send a man to fight with him. David said: “Your servant has killed both the lion and the …show more content…
The possible date when the work was done spins from 1605 to 1610. During that time, Caravaggio had already fled Rome and settled in the Island of Malta, as a part of the knighthood of Saint John the Baptist. However, due to the undetermined date, it may also be said, that the painting was executed already after Caravaggio’s years in Malta. Particularly after he had fled the knighthood and stopped in Naples before taking a ship to go back to Rome. It is important to understand this ambiguity, as it definitely surrounds the art of Caravaggio and lets one interpret each of his masterpieces in different ways. Sybille Ebert-Schifferer, one of the latest researchers on the art of Caravaggio, identifies David with the Head of Goliath as a part of the artist’s Neapolitan