Guercino, 'King David', 1651
About the work
Overview
King David was a biblical warrior king and musician, who is credited with writing several Psalms in the Old Testament. Here, David is not young but not yet old. He looks at a tablet inscribed with a line from a Psalm: ‘Glorious things of thee are spoken, O City of God’ (GLORIOSA / DICTA SVNT / DE TE CIVITAS / DEI). The luminous colouring and complex psychology exemplify Guercino’s achievements as a mature painter.
The painting was commissioned in 1651 by Giuseppe Locatelli of Cesena, together with a painting of one of the ancient Sibyls. David and the Sibyls were considered prophets of the coming of Christ. The original pendant to King David, the Cumaean Sibyl with a Putto (National Gallery), was replaced by a second Samian Sibyl with a Putto (also National Gallery). King David and the Samian Sibyl have hung together for centuries, first in Cesena then in Spencer House, London.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- King David
- Artist
- Guercino
- Artist dates
- 1591 - 1666
- Date made
- 1651
- Medium and support
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 223.5 × 170.2 cm
- Acquisition credit
- Accepted in lieu of Inheritance Tax by HM Government and allocated to the National Gallery, 2025
- Inventory number
- NG6707
- Location
- Room 32
- Image copyright
- Private collection
- Collection
- Main Collection
Provenance
Additional information
to be added
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.