The Triumph of David

1559 (published 1638)

Dirck Volckertz Coornhert

Artist, Netherlandish, 1522 - 1590

Joannes Galle

Publisher, Flemish, probably 1600 - 1676

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    engraving and etching on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 30.5 × 38.9 cm (12 × 15 5/16 in.)
    plate: 20.8 × 25.7 cm (8 3/16 × 10 1/8 in.)

  • Accession

    1974.53.8

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    New Hollstein, no. 439, State iv/iv

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Craddock and Barnard, London); purchased by NGA, 1974.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2009

  • The Brilliant Line: Following the Early Modern Engraver, 1480 - 1650, Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence; Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 2009 - 2010, cat. by Emily J. Peters.

Bibliography

1949

  • Hollstein, F.W.H. et al. German engravings, etchings and woodcuts ca. 1400-1700. 8 vols. Amsterdam: Menno Hertzberger, 1954-1868. Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, ca. 1450-1700. Vols. I-XV, XVIII, XIX. Amsterdam: Menno Hertzberger.

1993

  • The New Hollstein Dutch & Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts, 1450-1700. Maarten van Heemskerck. Parts I and II. Compiled by Ilja M. Veldman and edited by Ger Luijten. Roosendaal: Koninklijke van Poll, 1993.

Inscriptions

upper zone, in plate, names of subject and personifications engraved in image: DAVID, SAUL, and SEMEI; lower right, in plate, numbered in image: 4; below image, in plate: DAVID magnanimus fortem virtute Leonem / Vicit, & infandum Goliath, vicitque; ferocem / Vrsum: sed regem Saulem ambitione tumentem, / Risoresque suos tulit, & fræno rationis / Vicit, nec voluit sceleratas sumere poenas: / Verum hæcquis dubitat divino numine facta? (By his courage the gallant David triumphed over the mighty lion and the abominable Goliath, and vanquished the ferocious bear. But he endured King Saul, swollen with ambition, and his mockers and conquered them with the bridle of reason, not wishing to take revenge wickedly. But who can doubt that this all came to pass through God's mighty will? [translation from Veldman, Ilja. "Dirck Volkertsz. Coornhert and Heemskerck's allegories." In Maarten van Heemskerck and Dutch humanism in the sixteenth century, p.65. Maarssen: Gary Schwartz, 1977.])

Markings

none

Watermarks

present but not identified

Wikidata ID

Q65567755

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