Spanish mannerist school; 16th century.
"David with the head of Goliath and scene from the Old Testament",
Oil on pine panel. Engatillada.
It has repainting and restorations.
Measurements: 88,5 x 40 cm; 90 x 42 cm (frame).
Pair of oil on boards representing a scene of religious devotion. Both pieces, although they represent different themes, show a similar composition and an identical technical treatment, as far as the finishing of the brushstroke and the use of the chromatic range are concerned. Due to the technical characteristics, such as the modelling of the forms, the type of composition and even the aesthetic details used in the treatment of the canvases that make up both images, these works can be classified as belonging to the Mannerist school. In terms of subject matter, one of them depicts a chorus of women holding instruments, while the other depicts David triumphant with the head of Goliath.
The biblical narrative has it that Goliath came out of the Philistine camp and loudly challenged Israel to produce a man to fight him in hand-to-hand combat, the outcome of which would determine which army would become the servant of the other. No Israelite soldier was brave enough to accept such a challenge (Samuel 17:1-11, 16). However, a little shepherd boy named David, from the tribe of Judah, met his challenge. Goliath, preceded by his armourbearer, advanced, invoking evil against David by his gods. To this, David replied, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you with the name of the LORD of hosts" (Sam.17:45). When David threw a stone at him with his sling, it sank into his forehead and Goliath fell to the ground. David then stood over Goliath and cut off his head with the giant's sword (Sam.l 17:26, 41-53). David then took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem, and put his weapons in his tent (Sam. 17:54). The transcendent theme that he addressed through these works is essentially that of humility and intelligence defeating pride and physical strength. Thus, the biblical passage is an allegory of the ancient struggle between humility and pride.