David with the Head of Goliath
1630
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1630
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
David with the Head of Goliath is a 1630 by Pieter Serwouters, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This painting shows a young man holding a giant’s bloody head by its hair. Sunlight cuts across David’s face and armor. His sword is long and curved. Artists often painted David after the fight. This one adds a detail: David’s lips are open, like he’s singing. The Old Testament says David loved music. Look up this artist’s name next: Pieter Serwouters (Flemish, 1586–1657).
Here, a hymn of praise is sung to the victorious shepherd David, who holds the head of Goliath impaled on a large sword. The life of King David, as relayed in the Old Testament, was intrinsically linked with music. According to the first book of Chronicles, he initiated the use of music in divine worship in his capacity as the king.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Pieter Serwouters (1586–1657) was a Flemish artist, born in Antwerp.
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