# King David in Prayer [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [LEYDEN, Lucas van]() - Date: 1501-1550 - Technique: Etching ## Commentary Images of David kneeling in prayer with the Lord appearing overhead in the clouds were popular in illustrated bibles in the 16th century. Lucas also illustrated the choice that God demanded of David in a print dated 1520 but with an angel appearing in the clouds holding three arrows. In the next century the most common way of depicting the theme of David's choice was with a scourge or whip for famine, a sword for war, and a skull for pestilence. ## Related artworks - [Abraham and Isaac on Their Way to the Place of Sacrifice]() - [Adam and Eve \(Expulsion from the Paradise\)]() - [Adam and Eve]() - [Cain Killing Abel]() - [Cain Killing Abel]() - [Card Players]() - [Card Players]() - [Card Players]() - [Christ Healing the Blind \(detail\)]() - [Christ Healing the Blind]() - [Crucifixion]() - [Dance of Mary Magdalen]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()