# Saul and David \(detail\)

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/quellinus-erasmus-ii-r00f4d166c401bd/saul-and-david-detail-rc68f0a699c9ec7>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [QUELLINUS, Erasmus II](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/quellinus-erasmus-ii-r00f4d166c401bd>)
- Date: 1601-1650
- Technique: Oil on panel, 58 x 79,5 cm \(entire painting\)

## Commentary

Saul and David \(detail\) c. 1635 Oil on panel, 58 x 79,5 cm \(entire painting\) Szépmûvészeti Múzeum, Budapest In this painting by the Antwerp pupil of Rubens, the scene from the Old Testament is depicted in a large Baroque palace. On an ornamental throne, emphasized by columns, stairs and velvet drapery, is King Saul in the traditional pose of meditation, immersion in thought and spiritual tension, with his elbow on his crossed legs and his hand propping up his head. In his right hand he holds a spear which, under the spell of an evil spirit, he will hurl at David momentarily. The youth playing his harp before the throne pays less attention to his instrument than to the explosive anger of the king, so that he can dodge the weapon. The excited group of courtiers in the background also serve to heighten the drama of the episode. Their tempestuous feelings are expressed by distorted features: knotted brows, wrinkled foreheads and lips trembling with emotion. Even David&#39;s relief-bringing instrument, the arched harp, is decorated with a screaming monster-head. Such a dramatized presentation of biblical text is characteristic of Flemish Baroque painting, as well as of the spirit of Rubens&#39; workshop, where this painting was created. &lt;P&gt; &lt;TABLE ALIGN=LEFT CELLPADDING=5 BORDER=1 WIDTH=320 BGCOLOR=&#34;\#99CCCC&#34;&gt; &lt;TR VALIGN=MIDDLE&gt;&lt;TD&gt;&lt;IMG SRC=&#34;/support/gif/listen.gif&#34; BORDER=0 VALIGN=MIDDLE&gt; Suggested listening \(streaming mp3, 15 minutes\):&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A HREF=&#34;\#&#34; onClick=&#34;w=window.open \(&#39;/music1/17\_cent/kuhnau\_saul.html&#39;, &#39;newWin&#39;, &#39;scrollbars=yes,status=no,dependent=yes,screenX=0,screenY=0,width=350,height=350&#39;\);w.opener=this;w.focus\(\);return true&#34;&gt;&lt;B&gt;Johann Kuhnau: Saul Cured by David through Music \(No. 2 of the 6 Stories from the Bible illustrated in music\)&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/A&gt; &lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;&lt;/TABLE&gt;

## Related artworks

- [Achilles among the Daughters of Lycomedes](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/quellinus-erasmus-ii-r00f4d166c401bd/achilles-among-the-daughters-of-lycomedes-rd13e97b4e29315>)
- [Achilles with the Daughters of Lycomedes](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/quellinus-erasmus-ii-r00f4d166c401bd/achilles-with-the-daughters-of-lycomedes-rdd984915b5320b>)
- [Adoration of the Shepherds](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/quellinus-erasmus-ii-r00f4d166c401bd/adoration-of-the-shepherds-rcabd35c03eaf0a>)
- [Adoration of the Shepherds](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/quellinus-erasmus-ii-r00f4d166c401bd/adoration-of-the-shepherds-re70e542bf842ce>)
- [Artemisia](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/quellinus-erasmus-ii-r00f4d166c401bd/artemisia-r417cf2cf29cf24>)
- [Birth of the Virgin](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/quellinus-erasmus-ii-r00f4d166c401bd/birth-of-the-virgin-r1b9ab4874be76f>)
- [Cupid on a Dolphin](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/quellinus-erasmus-ii-r00f4d166c401bd/cupid-on-a-dolphin-r74edb667e2322d>)
- [Portrait of a Young Boy](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/quellinus-erasmus-ii-r00f4d166c401bd/portrait-of-a-young-boy-r0a6feff77468fb>)
- [Still-Life in an Architectural Setting](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/quellinus-erasmus-ii-r00f4d166c401bd/still-life-in-an-architectural-setting-rd27b7c738c37e5>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)