3-093-052 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

David with the Head of Goliath before Saul, 1627. David, after his victory over the giant Philistine Goliath, hands over the severed head of his opponent to King Saul (1 Samuel 17:57-58). At the centre of the composition is King Saul with a magnificent yellow cloak, opposite him his field captain Abner. Between them, David kneels with the giant's head. A white-bearded man bows to the kneeling boy, probably the prophet Samuel, who will later anoint David to succeed the aged king (2 Sam. 5). The figure of the horseman on the left edge of the picture, who is also richly dressed, is probably Saul's son Jonathan, who will later take David into his heart (1 Samuel 18:1).