Name of Object: David with the Head of Goliath
Holding Museum: Borghese Gallery
Date of Object: 1609/10
Artist(s) / Craftsperson(s): Michelangelo Merisi, “Caravaggio” (1571, Caravaggio (Bg)-1610, Port’Ercole (Gr))
Museum Inventory Number: 455
Material(s) / Technique(s): Oil on canvas
Dimensions: h: 125 cm; w: 101 cm
Provenance: Collezione Scipione Borghese (dal 1613)
Type of object: Painting
Place of production: Naples (?)
Description: The painting shows the key moment in the Old Testament story of David depicting the head of the giant Goliath, killed with a slingshot by the young shepherd. The canvas belonged to Cardinal Scipione Borghese from at least 1613, in which year, following payment, it was framed. The work dates from the artists second stay in Naples (1609–1610), when Caravaggio, fleeing Rome having been convicted of killing a man, nevertheless continued to maintain a relationship with Cardinal Scipione. The latters influence on his uncle Pope Paul V, after the painting was sent by the painter as proof of penance, convinced the Pope to grant a pardon. During his return journey, Caravaggio was delayed on the Tuscan coast near PortErcole, and died of unknown causes in July 1610, never reaching Rome. The oldest sources already recognise the artists self-portrait in Goliaths face, but opinion differs regarding the young hero. Some see a self-portrait of the artist as a young man. As usual, the composition, executed using dark colours, demonstrates a lively and acute drama simply through the expressiveness of the faces. On Davids unsheathed sword we can see some letters that have been interpreted to represent the virtuous motto “HumilitAS Occidit Superbiam”.
View Short Description Caravaggio innovatively painted himself as Goliath and sent the painting to Pope Paul V seeking pardon for the murder he had committed. The canvas may in fact be a double self- portrait, as David could be a portrait of the painter as a young man. The use of artificial light by Caravaggio has a moral function, probably expressing divine grace. It was at this time that Caravaggio’s artistic influence began to spread around the world.
Original Owner: Scipione Borghese (?)
Current Owner: Italian State
How Object was obtained: The Borghese Collection was acquired by the Italian State in 1902.
Selected bibliography: Della Pergola, P., Galleria Borghese. I Dipinti, II, Rome, 1959, n.114, pp. 79–80. Coliva, A., in Caravaggio l'ultimo tempo 1606–1610, exhibition catalogue (Naples), Verona, 2004, pp. 137–139, cat.14.
Additional Copyright Information: Copyright image: Archivio fotografico Soprintendenza Speciale PSAE e Polo Museale della Città di Roma.
Citation of this web page: Sofia BarchiesiDavid with the Head of Goliath in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers,2021 http:// baroqueart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php? id=object;BAR;it;Mus11;11;en
Prepared by: ,Translation by: ,Translation copyedited by: Sofia Barchiesi,Laurence Nunny,Mandi Gomez
MWNF Working Number: IT1 14