Open full image Pin

David Slaying Goliath

Benoît Audran

1750

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

18th Century

Dominant colour

David Slaying Goliath is a 1750 by Benoît Audran, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Benoît Audran
When & what style?: 1750
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This image depicts a dramatic scene of David slaying Goliath. In the foreground, David stands over the fallen giant, grasping a sword in his right hand and holding Goliath's hair with his left. The giant lies on his back, his head tilted upwards and his eyes closed. A sword lies on the ground beside him. The scene is set against a dark background, with a few rocks scattered around the figures. The overall mood of the image is one of tension and drama, capturing the moment of triumph for David. To learn more about the artist behind this work, look up Audran, Benoît.

The story of this work

Overview

The print depicts David in the act of slaying Goliath, based on a composition attributed to Michelangelo. It was produced by Benoît Audran in 1750 on paper.

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

Benoît Audran

Benoît Audran spent his life carving other artists’ designs into copper plates, turning their dramatic moments into prints that traveled farther than oil paintings ever could.

See the richer artist page