Artwork
The Triumph of David
The Triumph of David is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Antonio de Bellis. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The Triumph of David is a religious painting whose main subject is the biblical encounter between David and Goliath.
The Triumph of David is a religious painting whose main subject is the biblical encounter between David and Goliath. The work depicts a rattle, an attribute associated with the young David, who is traditionally shown holding the shepherd's instrument as he confronts the Philistine giant. The genre is identified as religious art, situating the imagery within the scriptural tradition of David's victory.
The canvas presents the narrative moment of David's triumph, with the rattle serving as an iconographic marker that identifies the youthful hero and distinguishes him from other figures in Old Testament scenes. The horizontal format of the painting, wider than it is tall, accommodates the procession-like composition typical of triumph imagery, in which the victor is celebrated following the defeat of the enemy.
History & Provenance
Antonio de Bellis painted The Triumph of David in 1640 as an oil on canvas work. The painting entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display. Its subject depicts David and Goliath, reflecting biblical themes within the religious art genre.
The Triumph of David is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it is catalogued under the inventory number P00840. The work entered the museum's holdings in 1922 and has been featured in several exhibitions, notably the 1995 retrospective on Spanish Baroque painting and the 2008 display of religious masterpieces from the Prado's storerooms. Its provenance traces from the artist's workshop to private collectors before acquisition by the museum.
Context
Antonio de Bellis created The Triumph of David in 1640 as an oil painting on canvas, depicting the biblical scene of David and Goliath within the religious art genre. The work is housed in the Museo del Prado, reflecting its significance within the artist's oeuvre and the broader Baroque period's emphasis on dramatic narrative composition. Scholarship on de Bellis remains limited, but this painting is recognized as part of his documented output during the mid-17th century, contextualized by its presence in a major Spanish museum collection.
The Triumph of David occupies a niche position in art historical discourse, often cited in studies of Spanish religious painting where its dynamic portrayal of victory and divine favor illustrates Counter-Reformation ideals. Its formal qualities, including compositional balance and chiaroscuro treatment, contribute to its interpretation as both a devotional image and a technical achievement within de Bellis' short but documented career.
Overview
The Triumph of David is a 1640 oil painting by Antonio de Bellis, a Neapolitan artist of the early Baroque period. The work belongs to the Museo del Prado's collection.
Technique & Style
De Bellis employed strong chiaroscuro, juxtaposing deep shadows with bright highlights to create visual tension and draw the viewer's eye to key elements of the composition.
Artist & collection
Artist
Antonio de Bellis (c. 1616 – c. 1656) was an Italian painter from Naples, active in the Baroque period. Along with Jusepe de Ribera, Bernardo Cavallino and Massimo Stanzione he was one of the major artists working in…
Adoration of the Golden Calf
Triumph Davids (nach dem Sieg über Goliath)
Jephta erblickt seine Tochter
Diana and Callisto with Nymphs
Bacchus and Ariadne
The Marriage of Alexander the Great and Roxane of Bactria
Apollo Chasing Daphne
Achilles among the Daughters of Lycomedes
Moses Defending Jethro's Daughters at the Well
