Who painted David with the Head of Goliath?

David with the Head of Goliath was painted by Giorgione in 1510-01-01.

Where can I see David with the Head of Goliath?

David with the Head of Goliath is held by Kunsthistorisches Museum.

What movement is David with the Head of Goliath?

David with the Head of Goliath is associated with High Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of David with the Head of Goliath?

Museum-quality prints of David with the Head of Goliath are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

David with the Head of Goliath

Giorgione , 1510

David with the Head of Goliath is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Giorgione. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Created around 1510, this work on poplar wood portrays the biblical hero David clutching the severed head of Goliath.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting shows the biblical hero David holding the severed head of the giant Goliath, a scene drawn from the Old Testament narrative of the battle between the two figures. By presenting David with Goliath's head, the work emphasizes themes of divine favor, youthful courage, and the triumph of the righteous over a formidable adversary. The severed head itself functions as a symbol of vanquished pride and the fate of the arrogant, reinforcing the moral lesson that strength guided by faith prevails.

This subject was frequently explored in Renaissance art to illustrate moral and spiritual lessons, and in this composition the intimate scale of the half‑length portrait heightens the contemplative mood, inviting viewers to reflect on the fleeting nature of power and the enduring virtue of the hero.

Technique & Style

The composition is identified as a religious work depicting the figure of David with the head of Goliath, and it is held by the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

The painting is executed in oil paint on a poplar panel, a support and medium consistent with Venetian practice of the early sixteenth century. According to the catalogue record, the work is classified as a painting on poplar wood and dated to 1510, with a panel measuring 65 cm in height by 74.5 cm in width. The composition is identified as a religious work depicting the figure of David with the head of Goliath, and it is held by the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

The Wikidata record describes the panel as a work by an anonymous artist after Giorgione, indicating that the surviving object is a copy or version following the master's design rather than an autograph original. No further details of handling, brushwork, surface condition, or stylistic analysis are documented in the available sources.

History & Provenance

The work titled David with the Head of Goliath is attributed to Giorgione and was created in 1510 on a poplar wood panel. It entered the collection of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria before being acquired by the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on display. The painting measures 65 centimeters in height and 74.5 centimeters in width.

The painting known as David with the Head of Goliath is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. It is identified as an anonymous work created after Giorgione, depicting the biblical scene of David and Goliath. The piece was formerly owned by Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria before entering the museum's holdings.

While specific accession numbers are not provided in the available records, the work is cataloged within the museum's inventory as a religious oil painting on a poplar panel.

Context

Giorgione's 'David with the Head of Goliath' occupies a pivotal yet contested position in early sixteenth-century Venetian art. Originally attributed to Titian in earlier scholarship, its assignment to Giorgione represents a significant reattribution based on stylistic analysis of the figure's contemplative demeanor and distinctive handling of light, reflecting evolving understandings of the artist's innovative approach to religious narrative painting within the broader Venetian school. This work, created circa 1510 for private devotion, exemplifies the transition from High Renaissance ideals toward a more intimate, psychologically nuanced style associated with Giorgione, influencing later artists such as Palma Vecchio in their treatment of biblical subjects.

Its complex provenance, including ownership by Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria and permanent display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, underscores its enduring significance as a cornerstone of Venetian Renaissance art history.

Overview

Created around 1510, this work on poplar wood portrays the biblical hero David clutching the severed head of Goliath. The composition is held in Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it is displayed as an early example of Giorgione’s mature style. The painting’s modest dimensions and restrained palette focus attention on the dramatic encounter between the two figures.